How Modern: Biographies of Architecture in China 1949–1979 at the Canadian Centre for Architecture uncovers overlooked modernist architecture. Curator Shirley Surya and researcher Li Hua discuss how architects navigated political constraints, blended local traditions, and innovated with limited resources, creating human-centred designs that reveal nuance, memory, and the lived experience of Chinese architecture.
Read MoreKejie Lin’s transformation from a landscape architect to a contemporary gongbi painting artist is as deliberate and precise as the strokes in her paintings. For over twenty years, Kejie designed gardens, orchestrating nature into harmonious compositions that invited reflection and calm. Today, she cultivates these same principles on paper, transforming the ancient, meticulous technique of gongbi, known for its fine lines and detailed brushwork, into a contemporary practice that speaks of her own journey.
Her latest exhibition, A Garden of My Own, at the Varley Art Gallery, extends this creative world and draws audiences from the moment they step inside.
Read MoreHong Kong, a city of neon lights and whispered histories, hums endlessly at the intersection of the ancient and the modern, the East and the West. It is a place of contradictions – a city that carries within it the echoes of temples, quiet in incense smoke, juxtaposed against the bustle of crowded, cosmopolitan streets. Within this labyrinth of cultural dualities and layered identities, the contemplative sculptures of Danny Lee Chin-Fai emerge – shaped by and, in turn, shaping the identity of the city itself.
Read MoreZoe Siu’s hands glide over vibrant ropes, twisting them into intricate forms that elevate both a humble material and an ancient craft into bold contemporary statements. From sculptural jewellery to large-scale installations, her creations breathe new life into the ancient art of Chinese knotting. Based in Hong Kong, Siu has built a reputation for transforming tradition into bold contemporary statements, connecting centuries-old craftsmanship with modern design.
Read MoreFrom April 11 to 13, the Grand Quay in Montreal’s Old Port will host the highly anticipated 2025 edition of Plural, Canada’s leading contemporary art fair. Formerly known as Papier, the fair began with a focus on works on paper and has since evolved into a reimagined event that reflects the multiplicity of voices, practices, and mediums shaping contemporary Canadian art. Amongst the standout projects is Like raindrops rolling down new paint, Karen Tam’s evocative work, presented by The National Bank and staged in the Espace Banque Nationale.
Read MoreBenevolence is Kevin Matthew Wong’s creative exploration of the Hakka-Chinese experience in Canada, which includes the short documentary Benevolence premiered at the 2023 Reel Asian Film Festival, the art installation Benevolence Hall with Toronto History Museums at The Market Gallery in summer 2024, and now the upcoming theatrical production Benevolence, set to premiere at Tarragon Theatre in April 2025.
Read More“Benevolence Hall” is Hakka-Chinese Canadian artist Kevin Matthew Wong’s latest art installation, inviting audiences to reflect on their personal journeys and connections to Canada. Many Canadians have roots in different parts of the world, coming to Canada and making it their new home. This is also true for the Hakka (which translates to “guest families” in Chinese), who have migrated within China and across the globe, including Canada, while respecting the local cultures of their new homes.
Read MoreThe Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival proudly announces pioneer visual and media Canadian artist Paul Wong as the 2024 Fire Horse Award recipient, honouring his community work, advocacy, and activism. The ceremony, hosted by Lainey Lui, took place on May 23rd at the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto, with notable attendees including Andrew Phung, Mayor Olivia Chow, the Rt. Hon. Adrienne Clarkson, and Ann Pornel.
Read MoreAsian Heritage Month is a fitting time to celebrate authors from the Asian-Canadian community, and new to the scene is immigration lawyer Nancy Lam. Her debut novel, The Loyal Daughter, is loosely based on her mother’s journey from China (Hong Kong) to Canada, spanning from the 1940s to present day. Told through the perspectives of a mother, daughter and grand-daughter, the story speaks to the myths and realities of the immigrant journey in North America which include complex relationships and generational challenges and trauma.
Read MoreOn April 22, 2023, the art world was saddened by the passing of sculptor Ju Ming 朱銘 who was aged 85. He was an internationally-renowned Taiwanese sculptural artist best known for his abstracted, blocky bronze and steel sculptures that masterfully depict human forms with unexpected sharp-edged shapes and a modern palette. A large number of his works are on permanent display in public areas around the world.
Read MoreFor 4 years, Cheuk crossed the globe, travelling to 13 countries, venturing behind kitchen doors to feature the journeys of 15 émigrés he found in each place. From Madagascar to Israel, from Brazil to South Africa, the real-life stories he uncovered along the way were more riveting than any work of fiction could ever be. Some were running from war, many from political oppression, a few from religious persecution; some were highly educated; some were farmers — yet all were forced to pick up a wok and a spatula — not because they loved Chinese food, but out of necessity.
Read MoreHalifax-based, multimedia artist Jenny Yujia Shi talks a lot about growing roots. This is probably because her life has been uprooted almost too many times to count. Not surprisingly, much of her creative output centres around themes of displacement and dislocation, which she attributes to two defining moments in her life: the demolition of her childhood neighbourhood in downtown Beijing and then, the decade she spent navigating the immigration process here in Canada. Shi’s work is as poignant as it is beautiful.
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