Shifting Articulations and Manifestations of Asian-ness in Contemporary Canada

Biographical Information (curator and participating artists) 

Yang Lim is an independent curator whose practice engages with diverse perspectives around timely topics in contemporary society and artists who work out of a variety of geographical, cultural, and discursive contexts. He is also interested in innovative approaches to curating that can broaden the public reach of art.  

This exhibition features twelve artists of Asian heritage from across Canada who work in a variety of mediums: Melanie Choi, Una Gil, Julia Huỳnh, Romi Kim, Wei Li, Janice Liu, Lucy Lu, Jihee Min, Carol Nguyen, Ravy Puth, Clare Yow, and Shellie Zhang. 

About the Exhibit

Highlighting diverse perspectives within Canada’s Asian communities, Shifting Articulations and Manifestations of Asian-ness in Contemporary Canada broadens the conversation around “Asian-ness” and complicates what it means to be part of Canada’s Asian diaspora today. It features twelve artists of Asian heritage whose works engage with intersecting narratives, communities, and discursive contexts that navigate the complexities of “Asian-ness” and Asian identities. 

Some of these artists explore how specific objects and places can become infused with culturally specific meanings that bridge different generations and contribute to a sense of shared heritage. Other artists reveal how intangible things such as language, music, and memories can embody a collective experience or legacy, providing an anchor for redefining or reimagining what it means to belong to a specific community. Some works reshape understandings of “Asian-ness” that have become associated with specific objects and places. The creation of the works themselves becomes a means to make “Asian-ness” visible and to expose its absence in contexts that have rendered “Asian-ness” invisible. 

This exhibition’s works demonstrate the persistence and resilience of Asian experiences that should be considered, in their own right, as meaningful and valuable for the people who belong to those communities. 

To learn more about this exhibition's artists, you are invited to attend this July’s Artist Discussion and Q&A events. Register here to confirm your spot in these free events:

This exhibition is funded with support from the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton.