UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS is an on-going series of community-specific works by Ping Chong exploring the effects of history, culture and ethnicity on the lives of individuals in a community. The piece is made through a collaborative workshop process involving Ping Chong and a group of individuals who vary in many ways but share the common experience of having been born in one culture and now being part of another.

UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS draws its power from the "simple" act of naming oneself in public. On one level, UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS is an emotionally charged challenge to traditional views of culture and the "other"; on another level, it is a lyrical expression of the astonishing fact of human similarity, difference and indomitability. Since each individual's experience encompasses that of his or her ancestors and culture, the piece is a journey through the turbulent history of the 20th century from a global perspective.

UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS was first produced during a residency at Artist Space in New York City. Since then, Ping Chong has created original UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS productions in cities like Charleston, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Seattle, Chicago, Rotterdam, Washington DC, Tokyo, where under the title GAIJIN or "foreigner" it received a 1995 Yumiuri Theatrical Award (for the roster of cities, click here). Most recently new productions were mounted at NYC's Ohio Theatre under the title, SECRET HISTORY; in Madison WI; Charleston SC; Atlanta GA; and Hanover, NH. A video version of SECRET HISTORY is now available.