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MengCheng 梦城团 Collective (pronounced “muh-ng chuh-ng”) is an invitation into intergenerational dialogue, communal healing, and empowerment by sharing the Asian American experience of living in the Mid-South. MengCheng 梦城 “City of Dreams” is inspired by the Chinese phonetic name for Memphis, or 孟菲斯 mèngfēisī. As artists and makers who grew up in Memphis, Thandi Cai, LiLi Nacht, Yidan Zeng and the late Neena Wang formed this collective to challenge the way our cultural histories have been collected, disseminated, or made invisible. Through an art-making process centered around food, ritual, and gathering, they create spaces to involve the Southern Asian American community in their own archive making, healing, and resource building. We aim to create transformative processes that allow the Asian American community to not only see ourselves in the history and future of the Mid-South, but also to claim our agency in enacting change in the region.

Exhibitions

2026 | Murmuration Threads, Vulpes Bastille, Kansas City, MO. Curator: Xiao Faria da Cunha

2026 | 變 SLOW BURN, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, PA. Curator: (CAO) Collective离离草

2026 | BeLonging/BeComing, The Emporium Center, Knoxville, TN. Curator: Karlota Isla Contreras-Koterbay

2026 | Four of Hearts, Sheet Cake Gallery, Memphis, TN, solo show

2025 | As it Unfolds, New Art Dealers Alliance, online. Curator: Fitsum Shebeshe

2024 | Between Heaven and Earth, We Build Our Home, UrbanArt Commission, Memphis, TN. Curator: Neena Wang

2023 | Kai Pa Ti 开趴体, Crosstown Arts Studios, Memphis, TN. Curator: MengCheng 梦城团 Collective

Performances

2025 | Ritual for Mapping, Stove Works, Chattanooga, TN

2024 | Ritual for Reflection, UrbanArt Commission, Memphis, TN

Grants & Residencies

Workshops & Lectures

2026 | Lecture, MengCheng 梦城团 Collective, University of Memphis Art Department, Memphis, TN

2026 | Book talk, Bring Your Own Book, World’s Borough Bookshop, Queens, NY

2025 | Lecture, Gathering at the Table: Reclaiming Chinese American Narratives through Community Potlucks, Rural Chinatowns & Hidden Sites Conference, Memphis, TN

2024 | Workshop, Raise Your Flag, UrbanArt Commission, Memphis, TN

Interviews & Publications

2025 | Various artworks, Issue 20, Apogee Journal

2024 | “Artists featured in Memphis AAPI exhibit share an ancient art on Live at 9,” WREG News Channel 3

2024 | “MengCheng Collective: An Invitation to Be” interview with Kelly Seagraves, Focus LGBT+ Magazine

2023 | “MengCheng’s Potluck” interview with Sophia Mason, Burnaway

2023 | “City of Dreams,” interview with Abigail Morici for Memphis Flyer

2023 | “These artists are centering stories of Memphis’ Chinese community,” interview with Elle Perry for Daily Memphian

Last Updated 24.10.37