Breaking the Frame: Two Solo Shows on Art and Identity

The Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Center) at the Japanese National Museum (JANM) presents “Breaking the Frame: Two Solo Shows on Art and Identity” from Thursday, August 21, through Saturday, August 23, 2025, in the Tateuchi Democracy Forum.

“Breaking the Frame: Two Solo Shows on Art and Identity” explores what happens when two Asian American solo performers fall deeply in love with Western mediums—movies and opera—only to discover that they both may be in too deep. In the wake of recent “yellowface” accusations on Broadway, Hmong-American actor Bee Vang of Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino and local-born actor and opera singer Kurt Kanazawa deliver emotionally charged and satirical indictments of two Western art forms that continue to harm Asian Americans and BIPOCs, today.

Directed by Jeff Liu (East West Players) and co-directed by Kalina Ko (Hedgerow Theatre Company), with lighting design and assistant direction by Josh Bennett.