Japanese artist showcased in poetography exhibit

By Sasha Ramazani

Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month kicked off April 1
with a variety of events and activities, including a Poetography
Exhibit, sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Islander Student
Center.

One of the main events held by the APISC is a Poetography
Exhibit entitled “Words of an Artist,” presented by award-winning
poet and photographer Ron Zheng.

It will be held today at noon in the Bronco Student Center.

Zheng uses tanka, a genre of Japanese poetry and simple black
and white 35 mm camera.

With the combination of his traditional Japanese background and
modern American cultures, Zheng has a way of expressing his art
through what he calls poetography. Poetography combines
photographic images with poetry and creates dynamic tensions
between the imagery and poetic words.

The tanka style of poetry, 31-syllables and five distinct
phrases, allows for a further developed narrative ideas.

A traditional Japanese tanka poem consists of five lines with a
syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7, somewhat similar to a haiku, but
with a pattern of only 5-7-5.

When written in traditional Japanese text, tanka is presented in
a single vertical line.

However Zheng uses five horizontal lines to appeal to the
greater English-speaking audience.

Zheng’s exhibit includes images from everyday experiences and
random glimpses into his life.

All of the images are photographed on black and white film then
printed on canvas.

Zheng holds a bachelor’s of science degree in psychology and a
MBA from Woodbury University in graphic arts.

This month is dedicated to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans
in the community.

Not only is this a celebration of the Asian culture, but it also
educates people about issues relating to Asian and Pacific Islander
Americans.

Students got a chance to participate in the “Who am I?” exhibit
held on April 2, which was based off the book “Part Asian, 100%
Hapa” by Kip Fulbeck.

According to Sharon Rocacorba, the coordinator of the APISC, the
book depicts more than 100 portraits of individuals who are part
Asian, part Hawaiian or Hapa.

Fulbeck defines Hapa as a person of mixed ethnic heritage with
partial roots in Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry.

For this exhibit, students who participated were photographed
and had to answer the question: “Who Am I?” in one sentence.

All of the photos will be on display in the APISC.

Other events that are being held by the APISC include an Urban
Showcase on April 8, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Bronco Student
Center.

It will feature performances by Far East Movement and Team
Millennia, among others.

Reach Sasha Ramazani at lifestyle@thepolypost.com

Christopher Sloan/Poly Post

Japanese artist showcased in poetography exhibit

Christopher Sloan/Poly Post

Japanese artist showcased in poetography exhibit