frames/fragments was created on multiple acoustic pianos found in old, untuned, and fractured states. The sounds of these instruments are usually considered unpleasant, especially when the expectation is that of a "perfect" instrument. With a change of perspective, however, the timbres and idiosyncratic characters of these imperfect instruments can be reframed to create a new sense of beauty.

This original musical composition uses recorded sounds from a collection of forgotten pianos; breathing new purpose and life into them. My compositions often explore elements of intersectionality — the blending of my own distinct cultural background and upbringing, the differing musical styles in which I have been trained, and my deep affection for the act of performing. As an artist, I aspire to connect people and find common ground through music. I hope to engage new audiences by continuing to write and perform new works, and present them in fresh ways.
Just as kintsugi creates something new out of what is fragile, passing, and modest, I aspire to do the same with my own artistic practice: strengthen the acoustic and concert-music genres by interweaving various musical styles together with my own voice.

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Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) commissioned five grant recipients to explore the concept of kintsugi - poetically translated as “golden repair” - through various artistic disciplines, and how this Japanese philosophy can be interpreted as an approach to healing. We proudly present the completed works, which range from music to dance, visual art to film. Embracing the flawed or imperfect, the artists explore themes of grief and intergenerational trauma, common struggles between communities, finding beauty in the broken, and how we fill the spaces between.