Santa Ana: Hings Lim - Specter in the Gate

Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center (GCAC) invites the community to experience Specter in the Gate an exhibition by Hings Lim opening during Downtown Santa Ana’s ArtWalk.

Specter in the Gate presents an opportunity to delve into the historical progression of political, economic, and cultural machines, anchoring its narrative in a pivotal yet often forgotten event: the 1906 burning of Chinatown, located adjacent to the former Santa Ana City Hall. This critical incident not only exemplifies the extensive history of biased urban planning and development practices in California but also serves as a poignant reminder of how collective memory and historical narratives are shaped and reshaped over time.

The work of Hings Lim is driven by the utilization and notion of perspective machines – technology such as cameras, projectors, and mappings. These mediums extend beyond mere technological use; they act as conduits through which the multifaceted layers of history and memory are examined and presented. By intertwining technological innovation with societal structures, this interplay between technology, history, and memory conjures the tangible and intangible legacies that span time, linking past, present, and future, with a body of works consisting of objects, photographs, moving images, and real-time projection mapping installation.