Ang manok na hindi nakikita, hindi rin nakakain: The chicken you don’t see, you cannot eat
“Ang manok na hindi nakikita, hindi rin nakakain: The chicken you don’t see, you cannot eat”
My work interrogates the paradox of our cultural dependence on immigrant labor and the systemic erasure of those who provide it. “Ang manok na hindi nakikita, hindi rin nakakain” is a Filipino proverb that roughly translates to “The chicken you don’t see, you cannot eat”. It carries a similar meaning to the US proverb “out of sight, out of mind”. The individual pieces of this installation have lived in many iterations, all with a common theme of unseen and often hidden labor. Sometimes this labor goes through great lengths to be hidden, and sometimes we choose to ignore the labor.
The imagery on these pieces often needs interaction to be fully seen, which mirrors the question of “is it better to stay hidden for safety?” My work directly reflects my experiences as a Filipinx in diaspora, and while my experience as a Filipinx-American is deeply personal, it also intersects with broader, systemic issues faced by marginalized communities. Through the work, I hope to illuminate the unseen and provoke conversations that lead to greater empathy and understanding. My intention is not just to reflect on systemic inequities but to contribute actively to their dismantling. By bridging the personal and the collective, I strive to create art that resonates across diverse audiences and inspires meaningful dialogue.
- Maeve Leslie
Free and open to the public
WhereMCBA Outlook Gallery
WhenSeptember 11, 2025–January 11, 2025
Viewable from the street (and from inside the shop during open hours)
Maeve Leslie (they/she) is a multi-media artist whose research revolves around unseen labor in the United States.
Their work expresses identity, erasure, social justice, and diaspora through printmaking, hand papermaking, book arts, and installation. The importance of material exploration is emphasized in their work through learning and incorporating other mediums when necessary.
Maeve’s work strives to challenge their viewer’s ideas around immigration, immigrant labor, and the ways children of immigrants must navigate multiple cultures. Maeve received their MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continued their studies at the University of Iowa-Center for the Book. They currently live and work in Denver, Colorado where they are an Assistant Professor and Area Coordinator of Printmaking at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Upcoming Exhibitions