“Taste in Memory” a solo exhibition by Jack Hein

The Museum of Asian Texans is pleased to present “Taste in Memory” a solo exhibition by Jack Hein.

Taste in Memory explores belonging, ritual, and everyday practice through sculptural forms inspired by food. Created primarily in porcelain, the works trace the artist’s journey fleeing from Myanmar, living as a refugee in Malaysia, and now establishing his art practice in the United States. Each relocation redefined the meaning of home, strengthening the role of food as a throughline of comfort and connection.

After Hein left Myanmar, familiar tastes became a way to hold onto memory for the artist. In Malaysia, Hein’s search for dishes such as nasi lemak helped create a sense of grounding in a new environment. Food became more than nourishment, it became ritual and repetition; a quiet way to rebuild belonging.

Now living in the United States, the comfort once found in Malaysia has itself become something to miss for Hein. The longing has shifted once again. At the same time, new memories formed in the United States, where the artist has lived longer than anywhere else, are carefully woven into the work.

The porcelain sculptures replicate the folds, shapes, and textures of foods prepared across different stages of life. Though nonfunctional, these forms preserve gestures of making and gathering. Traditional sculptural elements and offering bowls reference gratitude and devotion. Together, the works suggest that home is not fixed to one place but is continuously shaped through memory, migration, and everyday acts. 

Jack Hein’s solo exhibition, Taste in Memory is on view from March 14-April 5th, 2026. Curated by Christina J. Hahn at the Museum of Asian Texans. An artist talk will be held on March 14th, at 2:30 PM during the opening reception from 12 PM – 4 PM.