New York has long prided itself on being a haven for transplants like me—those who relinquished home, language, and familiarity to stake a claim in the city’s vibrant ever-evolving cultural landscape. But after five years as a cultural critic here, I have watched that promise unravel. The art community feels increasingly fragile, especially this year, as political tensions escalate and the federal administration slashes funding for cultural and educational institutions that are already stretched thin. The sense of exuberant possibility that once drew me in has been replaced by the sobering reality of regression. With Donald Trump’s recent executive order dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in federal agencies—dismissing them as unnecessary and polarizing—public institutions are now grappling with uncertainty around representation and sustained support.

Still, artists in New York—particularly those from Asian diasporic communities—continue to create, with a heightened urgency. In the past few weeks, I encountered quiet yet profound resilience in three exhibitions in particular, each highlighting practices that preserve cultural memory and reclaim overlooked narratives.