Oscar Yi Hou: East of Sun, West of Moon

By Amber Rivers

Oscar Yi Hou is an artist from Liverpool, UK who creates striking paintings of East Asians in film, media, and pop culture. His bold and vibrant work raises topics about racism against Asians and representation in American history. His 11 pieces of work at the Brooklyn Museum take hours to unpack as he uses symbolism, contemporary art, and acrylic or oil paints to showcase portraits of close friends, who are also queer East Asian artists. This exhibition aims to recast stereotypes that the Western world and practices have constructed about East Asians.

Oscar Yi Hou, Coolieisms, aka: Leather Daddy’s Highbinder Odalisque, 2022. Courtesy of the artist and the Brooklyn Museum.

Une rosace entre me, toi, and l’autre, aka: l’éventail de l’orient (Mont-real-est), 2022. Courtesy of the artist and the Brooklyn Museum.

Sayonara, Suzie Wongs, aka: Out the Opium Den, 2022. Courtesy of the artists and the Brooklyn Museum.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, aka: Bushwick Bleeding Hearts Club, 2022. Courtesy of the artist and the Brooklyn Museum.

Old Gloried Hole, aka: Ends of an Empire, 2022. Courtesy of the artists and the Brooklyn Museum.

Coolieisms, aka: Sly Son Goku, 2021. Courtesy of the artist and the Brooklyn Museum.

All American Boyfriend, aka: Gwei Lou, Leng Zai, 2022. Courtesy of the artists and the Brooklyn Museum.

Cowboy Kato Coolie, aka: Bruce’s Bitch, 2021. Courtesy of the artist, James Fuentes, and the Brookly Museum.

Birds of a feather flock together, aka: A New Family Portrait, 2020. Courtesy of the artist and the Brooklyn Museum.