TEN THOUSAND THINGS

March 7, 2025 through Spring 2027

Etsuko Ichikawa
Uranium Glass Orbs (Detail)

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

Ten Thousand Things
March 7, 2025 through Spring 2027


Curated by award-winning public radio podcast host and poet Shin Yu Pai, Ten Thousand Things is an exploration of the objects that shape our identities, histories, and cultural narratives. Inspired by her experience cataloging artifacts at the Wing Luke Museum as a Museology graduate student, Pai has long been fascinated by the way objects function as vessels of memory, meaning, and storytelling.

This exhibition expands upon her acclaimed public radio podcast Ten Thousand Things. Through three seasons of storytelling, Pai has explored the intimate connections people have with everyday and extraordinary items—objects that hold deep personal significance, evoke generational ties, or serve as cultural touchstones.

Visitors will encounter a curated selection of objects featured in the podcast, alongside newly collected artifacts and stories from local communities. From hand-crafted kapa cloth to a cherished abacus, from a well-worn walis tingting broom to a vibrant red chador, each item on display carries its own narrative of belonging, resilience, and transformation.

Shin Yu Pai, Mask. Photo courtesy of Sung Park.

Ten Thousand Things was originally commissioned by KUOW Public Radio at the University of Washington.

As of 2025, the podcast is independently produced and distributed by Wonder Media Network.

Visitors are invited to reflect on their own treasured belongings and the hidden stories they carry. Through this immersive experience, Ten Thousand Things seeks to illuminate the infinite ways in which objects connect us—to our pasts, to one another, and to the ever-evolving fabric of Asian American experiences.

Tiffany Ran, Tatung Steam Cooker

ARTIST LIST

Shin Yu Pai  

Anida Yoeu Ali

Etsuko Ichikawa 

Susie Kozawa 

Tiffany Ran 

Serena Chopra

Tomo Nakayama 

Stewart Wong

Jim Labayen

Johnathan Diego  

Sharon Maeda

Paul Miyahara

Kalei’okalani Matsui

Kamna Shastri

EXHIBITION EVENTS

OPENING RECEPTION

March 6, 2025
Members & Special Guests Only

RSVP for the opening night reception for a first look at the new exhibition.

MEMBERS GET FIRST LOOK

Becoming a Wing Luke Museum member grants you access to special member-only receptions, free admission, and early exhibition looks.

CHECK OUT OUR FULL EVENTS CALENDAR

Plan your year with us and check out more exciting community events, parties, programs, and more!

SPONSORS

EXHIBITION SPONSOR

Guendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff Fund for the Decorative and Design Arts