CFGNY's 'Vaguely Asian' Practice Explored in Interview

The New York-based collective CFGNY, known for its deliberately ambiguous acronym and 'vaguely Asian' sensibility, discusses its recent exhibition 'Puddles into Pond' at Amant and its fashion show 'CFG-20260717' co-produced with The Kitchen. In an interview with Lily Kwak, core members Daniel Chew, Ten Izu, and Tin Nguyen reflect on their collaborative process, which began around 47 Canal gallery, and their research into the No Name Painting Association (also known as Wuming Painting Collective), a group of Beijing plein air painters active during the Cultural Revolution. The exhibition features 18 stylizations of a ceramic template by artists including Ami Lien, Arlette Quỳnh-Anh Trần, and Cole Lu, arranged around a life-size brown furry bridge. The fashion show, held in Amant's parking lot, incorporated video art techniques and live feeds, referencing the history of video art at The Kitchen and citizen journalism on TikTok. The collective emphasizes the behind-the-scenes aspects of their practice, the importance of community and friendship, and the fluidity of identity. They also touch on the influence of brands like Hood By Air and Telfar, and the political implications of their work in the current US context.