Forty-two forgotten essays. One daughter. A collaborative zine project reimagining immigrant memory through art.
I found my mother’s voice tucked away in a drawer.
Forty-two essays she published in a Korean newspaper from the 1980s through the turn of the millennium — words I couldn’t read when she wrote them, and didn’t fully understand until years later. Not long after I had them translated and shared them with her, she was gone.
I feel incredibly fortunate that she knew I was bringing her essays back to life — that she saw how much they mattered to me.
After she passed, I wasn’t sure how to shape the work. It took time — and distance — to understand how I wanted to carry her voice forward in a way that also reflected my own style, interests, and creative instincts. Two years later, it clicked.
Now, each zine pairs one of her essays with a contemporary artist’s visual response, creating a conversation across language, generation, and memory.
What began as a private discovery is now a collaborative archive of immigrant memory. Through partnerships with independent Asian American artists and businesses, this project carries those stories forward in new and creative ways.
If you’ve ever wanted to know your parents more deeply — or to see your own story reflected through new, shared perspectives — you’re in the right place.
Join the Community.
Join our community as a subscriber and never miss an update. Posts about new issues, events, and the artists and independent businesses behind them are sent directly to your inbox. Paid subscribers receive each new issue and special invitations to Urikkiri events.
Have a question or interested in collaborating? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at: hello@urikkiri.com
For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
