Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and On Main Gallery announced that Vancouver artist Paul Wong will hold a book launch for his limited-edition hardcover book Occupying Chinatown on September 11 at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden (578 Carrall Street) in Chinatown.

The bilingual book, which is in both English and Simplified Chinese, provides a survey of Wong’s major artworks that delve into Chinese-Canadian identity and Chinese communities in Vancouver.

This book, which includes colour photos and documentation of his artwork and three original essays, is inspired by 900 letters sent over 65 years from numerous writers to Wong’s mother, Suk-Fong Wong.

The pioneering multidisciplinary artist began his year-long residency, entitled 身在唐人街/Occupying Chinatown, at the garden on April 22, 2018, which was marked by the City of Vancouver’s official apology for historic discrimination against Chinese Canadians.

With this publication, Wong, whose artistic career dates back to the 1970s, has chronicled his explorations of language, amnesia, and cultural displacement.

“Above all, I have approached this out of curiosity about what has been lost through silence,” Wong explained. “Occupying Chinatown has provided a conceptual frame for inspiring a prolific outpouring of artworks combining fragments of memory, language, and ephemeral histories. It has continued and will continue to allow me to look at everyday things as anything but ordinary.”

Among the works from his residency, Wong created a neon sign, 咸水埠温哥华/Haam Sui Fow Wun Goh Wah, mounted on the garden's exterior southern wall.

At the launch, Wong will speak about his work, and will also be available for book signings.

Occupying Chinatown will be available at the launch for a special price of $60 (after the launch, it will be available at the garden’s gift shop and online, for the regular price of $80).

The event will be held in one-hour sessions, with 40 people per session, at 2 and 3 p.m. and attendance is available with admission to the garden. Anyone interested in attending can register online.