"Trapped In The Flash" | The Red Strings

On a recent walk about at Washington Square Park, I chanced on performance art type of dance by two talented Chinese women; Jiening (Sophia) Zhu and Jiyun (Annora) Dong, both actors and artists from the NYU Tisch Drama's Experimental Theatre Wing.

Described as "a conversation with red strings, feminism, experimental theater and the body", these graceful and lithe dancers spent about 2 hours showcasing their forthcoming “Trapped in the Flash”, a one-hour off off broadway show that follows the lives of three Chinese American characters from varied historical periods – a photographer, an actress, and a railroad worker. The narrative unfolds through non-linear vignettes that span their experiences in America and their ties to China. 

At first glance, I thought the performance might've been similar to Shibari, the Japanese rope bondage (also known as "kinbaku"), which is a modern form of rope bondage originating in Japan. However, it has nothing to do with it.

The performance "....is about being trapped. It's about trying to escape. It's an exploration about power and space."

There's also "The Red Thread of Fate"; an East Asian belief originating from Chinese mythology. It is commonly thought of as an invisible red cord around the finger of those that are destined to meet one another in a certain situation as they are "their one true love".

THE ECLIPSE CHASERS

What better place to view the anticipated eclipse than in NYC's Washington Square Park? I had -and have- no interest in the eclipse itself, but the more than a thousand oddballs, skeptics, and gawkers who gathered made for captivating human interest photography.

The solar eclipse was expected to block the sun for 180 million people, with the next one predicted in New York area in 2044.

CHERRY | Looking For Red In Chinatown

Cherry Fu is an Asian-American actress born in Queens, New York. She's a Mandarin and English speaker. She was discovered at the age of 14 doing runway shows for NYC's Asia Business Center. A few years later, she started acting and modeling full time.

She holds a business degree, majoring in fashion, merchandising and art. She also enjoys kendo, gun shooting, archery and kickboxing.

The photo shoot's concept was for Cherry to wear a red cheongsam (aka qi pao) and pose at chosen Chinatown locations that have as much red as possible...

Larger photos of the shoot are here and OnThe Street blog.

AI GENERATED "X-PAN DIPTYCHS

I always had an affinity for the X-Pan format (16:9) and for diptychs. AI provided me an easy way to indulge in these two formats.

The prompt is "editorial fashion shoot, 70's Vintage Style, Asian model, LOOKING AT CAMERA, cornrows, topknot, velvet dress, subdued lighting, black backdrop in a NYC diner, enigmatic mood, Ilford XP2 Super 400 film". 

NANDA | The World Is Waiting For Her

Nanda Gremo is a student at Fordham University, and a dancer at the Ailey school, class of 2026. She’s Taiwanese American, formerly lived in Beijing, and recently returned to live in New York City where she was born. 

She was photographed performing her dance moves in various spots in NYC's SoHo.

Larger photographs are on this website ↓ and On The Street blog.

Nanda by Tewfic El-Sawy on Exposure

JASMIN | The Red Boots

Whenever the weather improves in New York City, Washington Square Park reverts to being the "center of the universe", as if the sun and its warmth inject life again in its arteries. I had photographed ('snapped' really) Jasmin a few weeks before when she wa dancing -along with others- to the drum beats of Allan, who commandeers a spot at the center south entrance to the park. 

When I saw her again a few days ago, she was getting ready to sing and dance later in the evening, so I showed her the photographs and asked whether she'd pose for me with her back to the now-empty fountain where the skaters practiced their moves.