Hyphenated

with Dana Tai Soon Burgess

Dana Tai Soon Burgess, has a compelling story as Asian American and he shares this in our conversation. As the National Portrait Gallery's choreographer-in-residence, he creates new works inspired by the museum's exhibitions and collections. Burgess discusses two portraits in the collection: a photograph of Michio Ito by Nickolas Muray (1921) and a pastel drawing of Isamu Noguchi by Winold Reiss (c. 1929).  The intersecting stories of these sitters reveal the triumphs of Asian Americans, as well as the darker moments in American history. 

waist length photo of a young Asian man in a black sweater and patterned scarf

Dana Tai Soon Burgess | Photo by Mary Noble Ours