3 Generations Top
3 Generations Top, 2026, highlights the intricate fabric of Asian and Asian American cultural traditions, interconnecting the personal stories of my two female ancestors and myself. The artwork serves as a tribute to my heritage, narrating the formidable childhood challenges faced by three maternal generations, and illustrating each individual’s discovered source of joy and inspiration, ultimately, leading to an escape towards a better life.
The project stands as a vibrant testament to the enduring legacy of our heritage, celebrating resilience, joy, and the unbreakable connections of ancestry. The project holds great importance for me, as I had never created a garment artist book, and this is the first time I have connected stories of my three maternal lines.
MEDIA AND SIZES:
20" X 26" Fabric. Wearable Book Arts Garment (Book Arts-wear), machine- and hand-sewing, appliqué and hand embroidery. The patchwork is inspired by a traditional Chinese patchwork pattern, the 6-pointed star, of a traditional 100 family's (biajia yi) garment. Books are accordion folded with images and text. The artist book will be editioned. This project uses 95% recycled materials. ♻️
Published at Cluj-Napoca, Romania in December 2025-January 2026 during a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Fellowship.
"The physical violence breaks my heart but the resiliency is admirable in the face of hardship. Internal strength is the generational thread."
Tina Erickson, artist
Excerpt from Nicole Belcastro's article in The Baltimore Beat: What's Poppin Issue #078, February 24, 2026:
“3 Generations Top,” as Chan calls the work, is the most personal yet in her illustrious career, incorporating her own legacy while remaining inspired by international folktales.
The garment fuses the intricate patterns of traditional Romanian folk costumes with the 100-families garment style of Qing Dynasty China. From each pocket, a fabric book unfolds, sprawling across the garment, tracing Chan’s lineage.
The books depict the lives of women from Chan’s maternal line, beginning with her grandmother’s orphaning, then her mother’s upbringing during World War II, and finally Chan’s own isolated childhood. Hand-embroidered symbols mark the books’ pages, chronicling the women’s shared experiences of enduring abuse and servitude before escaping and finding joy. A dumpling representing her grandmother’s wish for food ... and a stack of books representing Chan’s connection to the outside world ... show the parallels and advancement in each woman’s story.
The latest exhibition (at the Cylburn Arboretum Volmer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA) sees Chan extending her family’s legacy of artistry and oral storytelling.