Circles and Circuits explores the art of the Chinese Caribbean diaspora from the early 20th century to the present day. By examining the contributions of artists of Chinese descent in Cuba, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and beyond, the exhibition reveals the hidden complexities of the transcultural art of the Caribbean.

Circles and Circuits is presented at two venues: the Chinese American Museum (CAM) and the California African American Museum (CAAM). The presentation at CAAM — Circles and Circuits I: History and Art of the Chinese Caribbean Diaspora — traces the history of Chinese Caribbean art from the 1930s through the period of the region’s independence movements, showcasing the contributions of artists little known outside their own countries—such as Sybil Atteck (Trinidad and Tobago) and Manuel Chong-Neto (Panama)—and providing a new context for understanding the better-known work of artists such as Wifredo Lam (Cuba).

At CAM, Circles and Circuits II: Contemporary Chinese Caribbean Art focuses on the work of contemporary artists, including Albert Chong and Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, as well as artists of the ongoing Chinese Caribbean diaspora. This exhibition is organized by the Chinese American Museum in partnership with the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University and CAAM. Curated by Alexandra Chang, A/P/A Institute at NYU, and Steven Y. Wong, CAM, in coordination with Mar Hollingsworth, Visual Arts Curator and Program Manager, CAAM. The exhibition is part of Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, a far-reaching and ambitious exploration of Latin American and Latino art in dialogue with Los Angeles, taking place from September 2017 through January 2018 at more than seventy cultural institutions across Southern California. Pacific Standard Time is an initiative of the Getty.