Xiaowen Zhu's 'Oriental Silk' Book Chronicles Family Migration Through a Los Angeles Fabric Shop

Xiaowen Zhu, an artist based in Berlin, has released 'Oriental Silk,' a €40 hardcover book published by Hatje Cantz. This work chronicles the legacy of Oriental Silk Importers, a fabric shop in Los Angeles owned by Kenneth Wong, whose father immigrated from Guangdong after serving in the US military during World War II. Wong shares stories that touch on themes of slavery, celebrity, assimilation, and alienation, including an anecdote about Madonna's designer sourcing fabric for her daughter Lourdes. Zhu’s project, which features videoworks, garments, and photographs, delves into East-West migration and transformation, with the book designed to evoke a store visit. Wong expresses concern over the decline of silk embroidery craftsmanship, as private firms in China replace government factories. The narrative intertwines nostalgia and changing cultural landscapes, reflecting on a family business founded in the early 1970s.