In A Temporary Space, Jenifer Poon moves her fragmented, fragile, watercolored bodies off the two dimensional wall; the gallery becomes a proving ground for her exploration of ritual in contemporary culture. The artist’s recent experience with familial death causes her to reflect on our expectations of those closest to us. “We remember those who have passed on with a different stream of consciousness, we find our own meaning in what was reality; death sanitizes everything.”

An Asian American, Poon was raised in San Francisco by her grandmother, who spoke only Chinese. She grew up in a tradition rich household, following ancient rituals, the significance of which were lost long ago. The clashing of culture and generation is evident in this work; Poon merges themes of race, sexuality, and social identity with personal experience to create a unique perspective on an individual’s reaction to social pressures from the world around them.