“Grief and joy are like sisters or lovers or friends… I think shifting that perspective or regrounding myself in what I would like to build from here has been nourishing my practice a lot recently.” -Huiyin Zhou
In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Huiyin Zhou, a Durham-based multimedia artist, cultural producer, photographer, and writer whose practice is fed by friendship, care, and the importance of remembering. Between conversation of ghosts and dreams we explore how we understand our expanding identities. In short, the definition is always changing. And while that can be disconcerting for me, Huiyin leans in and finds play in their expansiveness. We also unpack the differences between online and offline community, why they carry a disposable camera to gatherings, and how grief and joy move together inside their work.
I was specifically interested in exploring their current exhibition at Artspace, 辫 (biān) / 彼岸 (bǐ àn) — “for those of us who live at the shoreline”(Audre Lorde, A Litany for Survival). The exhibition feels like a love letter to friends and family. With every detail thoughtfully chosen down to the wall color of “lotus pink”, reflecting Huiyin and their creative partners matching tattoos, their dedication to this craft is palpable. If listening during September 2025 be sure to view the exhibition in person so you can see it for yourself. 💕
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:
* Building community online and in person with care and intention
* How photography and writing can hold grief and joy at the same time
* Advice for artists seeking studio environments and supportive networks
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🫱🏾🫲🏼 Connect with Huiyin Zhou:
https://www.instagram.com/huiyin.zhou/
https://www.instagram.com/caocollective/
👋🏽 Connect with me, Alyssa Cuffie Onuoha:
https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa/
https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/
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Recorded at Queeny's in Durham, North Carolina
