USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena has opened "Mythical Creatures: The Stories We Carry," a museum-wide installation conceived by Korean American artist Dave Young Kim. The exhibition transforms all 12 galleries into an immersive journey through the immigrant experience using pan-Asian mythology, featuring approximately 100 objects from the museum's permanent collection alongside works by 24 contemporary artists, most commissioned for the show. Highlights include a wraparound video installation in a reconstructed airplane cabin, an AI video interaction, and a custom AI Curator app. The exhibition runs through September 6 and is the first to open in galleries newly named for East West Bank, which provided the largest single gift in the museum's 55-year history.
This exhibition matters because it reimagines a century-old landmark as a platform for contemporary immigrant narratives, bridging historical Asian art with cutting-edge technology and new commissions. By centering the immigrant experience through mythology and everyday artifacts, Kim challenges exoticized views of Asian culture while activating the museum's permanent collection in innovative ways. The show also underscores the growing role of corporate sponsorship in university museums, with East West Bank's landmark gift signaling increased investment in Asian American cultural institutions.