Love and Maya

Drawing inspiration from the Stop Asian Hate movement that advocates against violence targeting Asian communities, and the Very Asian campaign, which centers AAPI identities and highlights intracultural diversity, artist Sneha Shrestha (@imagine876) shares a vision for how people can show love to others and transcend differences, particularly those rooted in race, culture, and language.

Love and Maya is designed to encourage collaboration between visitors within the gallery space, including those who may not speak the same language. Visitors will have the opportunity to work together to light up two paintings that stand out from the floor-to-ceiling hand painted murals. On one painting “Love” appears in English, on the other the word “Maya,” which means love in the artist’s native language of Nepali.

With recent acts of racism weighing heavy on our collective consciousness, Love and Maya makes the statement that our differences are important; exploring and engaging in dialogue about identity and these differences are essential to building a just and safe society. Shrestha’s vision for Love and Maya encourages conversation about differences and how to show love for all people.