TRISHA MAH

ARTIST STATEMENT

I occupy a unique intersection of performance, pedagogy, and visual storytelling. With over 15 years of taiko (Japanese drumming) experience, I bring a deeply embodied understanding of rhythm, movement, and energy into my artistic practices. Taiko serves as both a cultural celebration and a powerful medium for storytelling, resonating through generations and reclaiming space in Asian American narratives. Teaching beginning taiko classes has deepened this knowledge, enhancing my ability to communicate complex cultural traditions in accessible ways.

The physicality and collective nature of taiko shape my visual work, infusing it with a sense of motion, connection, and resilience. I create collages as a way to honor dreams, memory, and the joyful complexity of being in community. Working primarily with analog materials—found magazines, books, family and found photos, and hand-drawn elements—I weave together layered narratives that center the beauty and presence of Asian people and people of color. My work often features the sea, flowers, food, and vibrant color palettes, reflecting the inner worlds and emotions I carry. Collaging allows me to explore the interplay between the conscious and subconscious, between what has been passed down and what I dream forward.

As a Chinese-Japanese American artist born and raised in the East Bay, my practice is deeply personal and rooted in lived experience. I draw inspiration from everyday interactions, family stories, and the quiet power of cultural inheritance.

Storytelling is central to my process—whether I’m creating alone or in collaboration. Through my dual practice as a taiko educator and collage artist, I explore cross-disciplinary approaches that honor cultural heritage while inviting new generations into the conversation through movement, art-making, and collective storytelling. I see art as a form of healing, of radical expression, and of connection. Each creative piece, whether through performance or visual art, is an invitation to reflect, to feel, and to imagine the worlds we build through community and care.