![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.artoronto.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Far-and-Near-gallery-view_opt.jpg\")
<\/a>Installation view of\u00a0Far and Near: The Distance(s) Between Us\u00a0<\/em>at the Art Museum University of Toronto<\/p>\nTherefore, the purpose of Far and Near: The Distance(s) Between Us <\/em>is meant to illuminate this divide and how this community is perceived, treated, and often overlooked. This group exhibition draws from the experiences of eleven Canadian artists of Chinese heritage to examine historical and societal narratives that shape their identities. Distance <\/em>here describes both the geographical distances associated with immigration and the country\u2019s own expanse as well as the cultural distances that externally and internally isolate an otherwise diverse group of ethnicities and traditions.<\/p>\n The works on display explore many facets of their cultural identity: language, education, modern domestic life, faith, tradition, and cuisine among many others. Moreover, the exhibition cumulatively demonstrates the under-representation of Asian-Canadian artists within the sphere of contemporary, and by consolation historical, art. With a combination of photographs, videos, painting, printed and written works, and installations, this exhibition emphasizes the array of issues and complexities challenging them. As only one example, half of the gallery space has been converted into the Gold Mountain Restaurant or Montagne d\u2019Or<\/em>. Karen Tam recreated the interior of a Chinese restaurant with intricate and meticulous detail. The ornate dividing screens, the hanging lantern lighting, the sales counter, and even the dinner menus are carefully considered to emulate her memories of living in French Canada. It further incorporates video footage of the daily inner workings of the restaurant and its infusions of personality.<\/p>\n The series of photographs by Chun Hua Catherine Dong, titled, Skin Deep <\/em>examines shame in relations to the body, associated with vulnerability in its personal and socio-political dimensions. In these images the artist examines the word shame (to cover) as a cultural symbol. She wraps her face with beautiful Chinese silk, giving the images the mixed meaning of beauty and danger, since it is suffocating under the fabric as we can see in the accompanying video. She emphasizes the notion of shame, or \u201closing face\u201d, that is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, meaning to let down yourself, your family or culture. Under the silk the artist literally and metaphorically loses her face and with it her Chinese identity as well.<\/p>\n Chih-Chien Wang in Jelly Project #1 \u2013 A Collective body<\/em>, combines architecture, body and machine by using jelly, a popular Chinese dessert. As the jelly goes through the process of congealing it preserves the time, light, sound, smell; everything that surrounds it, creating a one-of-a-kind documentation, one that can not be decoded. Ken Lum, is known worldwide for his conceptual and representational art that often deals with social and individual identity. Untitled (Language Painting)<\/em> addresses the difference between cultures through the words they use, giving a historical hint as well through their typological appearance.<\/p>\n Far and Near: The Distance(s) Between Us <\/em>is an elaborate, multi-faceted delve into the entrenched divisions and cultural constraints affecting the lives of Chinese Canadians. The group of artists – Alvis Choi (aka. Alvis Parsley), Chun Hua Catherine Dong, Gu Xiong, Will Kwan, Ho Tam, Ken Lum, Morris Lum, Karen Tam, Chih-Chien Wang, Paul Wong, Winnie Wu, and curator Henry Heng Lu \u2013 draw out their own experiences to best encapsulate the diaspora.<\/p>\n Text and photo: Simon Termine<\/p>\n *Exhibition information: September 6 – October 29, 2017, Art Museum University of Toronto, Justina M. Barnicke Gallery,\u00a07 Hart House Circle, Toronto. Gallery hours: Mon \u2013 Fri, 12 \u2013 5; Sat, 1 \u20135 pm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Karen Tam, Gold Mountain Restaurant or Montagne d\u2019Or<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Chun Hua Catherine Dong, Skin Deep<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Installation view of\u00a0Chun Hua Catherine Dong,\u00a0Skin Deep<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>Chih-Chien Wang in Jelly Project #1 \u2013 A Collective body<\/em><\/a>Ken Lum,\u00a0Untitled (Language Painting)<\/em><\/p>\n