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Overview
This mask was created by Auckland-based Korean New Zealand artist Hanna Shim during the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020. It is one of three ‘special edition’ embroidered cloth masks created by Shim and was purchased by fellow Korean New Zealander, Saera Chun. Shim also sold a variety of hand-created, simpler masks during the lockdown and donated the proceeds to the domestic abuse charity, Shine.
In their own words
Hanna Shim
Artist Hanna Shim’s motivations for making the masks stem not only from the immediate, racial dimensions of the pandemic, but also from her broader lived experience as woman of Korean heritage living in Aotearoa New Zealand:
"Even though our societies are becoming more diverse than ever before, not everyone seems to be ready for it. Over the past few years, ‘diversity’ has been used a lot to signal the direction in which the world is heading. Even in films and TV shows like Stranger Things, New Girl, Maze Runner etc. we now easily come across groups of important characters with a variety of ethnicities (even if the main characters are still white). And while I agree representing ‘diversity’ is important for brands, companies and enterprises to appear more empathetic or generate interest from a wider market, at times their support for diversity feels forced. As an Asian, whenever I have encountered this ‘forced diversity’, I have sensed the insincerity behind it.
"I think COVID-19 has revealed the bare truth of how individuals embrace diversity. Some people may have held deeply racist views but remained silent until now due to the ‘forced/mandatory diversity’ around them. COVID-19 gives these people a good excuse to be racists.
"The facemask is an interesting medium as it hides one’s identity as well as the voice. I made special edition masks by embroidering letters and words on them to express humorous and ironic messages–such as 'Anti Anti Asian' and 'Don’t be racist'.
"There is a phrase called 'eye for eye and tooth to tooth' and 'hatred bear hatred'. I think it is very immature to fight over anti-Asian manifestation like what we received, so I chose to respond instead by showing some kindness. As an Asian and an artist, I started making facemasks and fundraised to help domestic violence victims. I was able to raise more than $1,000 within two weeks. My friends and community who helped me raise this money, they showed kindness which transcends race, age and sex."
Saera Chun
The Anti Anti Asian mask was subsequently purchased by Saera Chun, who bought the mask as an historical 'souvenir' of the Covid-19 pandemic with the intention of framing it rather than wearing it. Like Shim, Chun found the mask and its message relevant both to the current moment and her earlier lived experiences as a Korean New Zealander living in Aotearoa:
"In the very first year I moved to New Zealand (during the SARS epidemic), I decided to wear a cotton mask to school one winter’s day. I only had a mildly sore throat and a little cough, but no harm in being cautious, I thought. It lasted until lunchtime when an argument with a boy who was taunting me left with wet instant noodles in my hair. Annoyed, I told him that I had indeed contracted the virus and he should stay away.
"Fast forward to 2020, I thought I had grown out of such juvenile racism a long time ago. However, the worldwide pandemic caused by coronavirus instantly brought it back. Suddenly, I was getting racist slurs and looks of disdain as I walked the streets. The turn was so swift that I found it almost nostalgic and amusing.
"Hanna’s Anti Anti Asian Mask brilliantly captures my sentiments around wearing a mask in public in New Zealand. It became a perfect memento of the fast-changing COVID-19 era for me. Also, it reflects the reluctant activist in me. Confronting racism in person used to be much easier when I was 13 years old and just embarked on the journey. Now, I would rather put Anti Anti Asian Mask on display as a reminder of still-prevalent racism against Asians in New Zealand than wear it myself to actively campaign the message."