TEMPE, ARIZONA.- Arizona State University Art Museum presents Stella Lai: Let’s Stop Pretending, on view through November 19, 2005. In 1997, after 155 years as a British colony, Hong Kong -- the place where artist Stella Lai was born and raised -- was returned to The People's Republic of China. Reflecting on this momentous shift in modern history, the artist, presently living and working in San Francisco, examines the architecture, language and memories of her native Hong Kong in her most recent work, which attempts to define the decidedly schizophrenic cultural identity of her birthplace.

In Let's Stop Pretending, a newly developed series of paintings and wall installations, Stella Lai reflects on a country that is neither British nor Chinese, but a hyper-accelerated city embroiled in a new global dialogue.

Stella Lai was born in 1975, in Hong Kong, and currently lives and works in San Francisco. Lai received her BFA from the California College of Arts and Crafts in San Francisco. The artist has recently exhibited at the following venues: Lizabeth Oliveria Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Howard House Gallery, Seattle, WA; Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco, CA; Cassius King Gallery, San Diego, CA; Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA; and will be part of a two person show with artist Iona Rozeal Brown at Saltworks Gallery, Atlanta, GA in fall of 2005. Lai is currently the artist in residency at the Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester, UK. The exhibition was organized by the Arizona State University Art Museum. Stella Lai: Let’s Stop Pretending will be the artist’s first museum solo exhibition.