Chinese Lesson (2023) is a durational performance that reflects upon the artist’s heritage as a Chinese-Indonesian. Between 1967–2000, Chinese culture was effectively erased by the Indonesian government. Chinese names were forced to be changed, Lunar New Year celebration was prohibited, and teaching Chinese language was criminalised. Using poetries written in Chinese-language by Indonesian poets, Li Zhengdao 李政道 (Henri Affandi) aims to reconnect with the sentiment and trauma experienced by Chinese-Indonesian communities during the New Order regime. 

Throughout the performance, the artist writes over a black and white wall using white paint while wearing a Babirusa mask. The act of writing upon the white section represents the necessity for Chinese culture to be practised in secrecy, while bleeding over the black wall represents the communities’ refusal to be silenced. 

As a third-generation Chinese immigrant, the artist represents a whole generation that is removed culturally from their heritage. The performance acts as a lesson in re-learning one’s identity, and also as a story of defiance and perseverance.