Two Richmond artists are inviting the public to dive into Vancouver's summertime nostalgia at their debut gallery exhibition starting this weekend.
Where I'm From by Jeremy Jude Lee and Megan Kwan is an immersive art exhibition featuring a collage of cinematic photography inspired by the style of Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, video and everyday artifacts that showcase the Asian-Canadian experience.
Among the 55 photographs to be exhibited at Gallery 881 in Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood are some familiar Richmond scenes, such as the West Dyke Trail and Richmond Night Market.
“It’s our love letter to the city in the summertime,” said Lee, who was raised in Steveston.
“I captured these moments to revisit my memories of Richmond through a cinematic lens, and I wanted to tell a story of belonging in this beautiful place we call home.”
The two artists, who were born and raised in the Lower Mainland, had struggled with being perceived as foreign growing up.
“Where I’m From is inspired by our ancestors who immigrated to Vancouver in hopes of a better future – one that we have been able to gratefully embrace as artists,” said Kwan, who led the artistic direction of the exhibition.
“(The exhibition is) our vision of home as first and second-generation Asian-Canadians, revisiting familiar places documented with a renewed perspective that redefines past beliefs of belonging."
Apart from exploring themes of belonging, the exhibition has collaborated with the Strathcona Business Improvement Association in the hopes of connecting artists and local businesses to foster a supportive culture for creative entrepreneurs.
The free exhibition is kicking off at the start of Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 and will run until Mar. 9. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
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