Ishie Wang: The name behind the face 改寫海外華裔模特兒歷史的王旖溪

You may recognize Ishie Wang’s face immediately: she is one of the prominent Asian models in Canadian advertisements for Roots, Hudson’s Bay, Sporting Life, and The Shopping Channel. From an early age, her family clearly envisioned a cultivated life of aesthetics and artistic appreciation for her. Ishie began learning piano at the age of 3 1/2, studied calligraphy and Chinese painting at the age of 4, and learned erhu at 6 and percussion instruments at 8. By the age of 11, she had completed her Grade 9 Piano certification and was recognized in numerous musical competitions.

Personal Stories, Art and FashionFête ChinoiseJune 7, 2022Asian Representation, Personal Stories, ArtComment

Discovery With Her Camera: Sophia Chew

Currently 18 years of age, Sophia had an interest in the arts since childhood. It was, however, the pandemic that really pushed her into creating pieces when she was at home. In 2015, Sophia’s father gave her a Nikon D60 and lent her his camera gear. Prior to the pandemic, this camera was a constant companion, making an appearance everywhere on trips, hang-outs with friends, and neighbourhood walks.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Art and FashionFête ChinoiseJune 6, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, fashionComment

These Eyes of Mine

I am often too focussed on how the world sees me that I sometimes forget to see myself. As a Chinese woman, one of my defining features are my eyes. These are the same eyes that were ridiculed when I was a child. I still remember the chant about them which made me feel ugly. It resides in my mind as the first time I realised I looked different from everyone else. Yet, I now love these imaginative eyes that, when closed, take me to faraway lands and places I never thought I would see. Now, I am proud of these almond eyes, eyes that guide me to paint, draw and create. I cherish them for the beauty that they let me see, in others and over the years, in myself and my journey.

Personal Stories, Art and FashionGuest UserMay 13, 2022Asian Representation, Personal Stories, ArtComment

Fashion as Ritual: First Monday in May 時尚的禮儀

Before getting dressed in the morning, I wade through the dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, scarves, hats, shoes and handbags clogging my bedroom closet and still can’t find anything to wear. It’s become a daily ritual. My tastes change with the fashion. Or is that I expect too much from my clothes? One day I wear ruffles and feel pretty, and the next a camouflage print to channel my inner warrior. My friend has trouble packing her suitcase for overseas trips because she simply cannot anticipate what her mood might be on the road. “I dress to express what I feel,” she tells me. “Or what I want to make happen on a given day.”

Art and FashionFête ChinoiseMay 2, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, fashionComment

The Realm of Applied Arts

Four young applied artists reveal a glimpse of their dream world. Their imagination takes us on unique journeys of cultural exploration and craftsmanship.

Art and FashionFête ChinoiseJanuary 24, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artistsComment

Paper Sneakers and Border-Crossing Dreams: Multimedia Artist Natalie Wong

Natalie’s work is never the same; it is continuing developing, adapting and evolving. I find it fascinating she cannot pick a favourite medium and experimentation tends to lead her to all sorts of new artistic dimensions. What is consistent however, is how Natalie seems to make pieces with cultural, whether localised or global, connotations. I would speculate whether it comes from Natalie’s outlook from splitting her time between Hong Kong and London. Natalie noted that “both cities are amazing in their own unique ways. Hong Kong is intense, efficient and it's easy to meet people.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Art and FashionFête ChinoiseJanuary 21, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artistsComment

He Kun 賀昆 : Capturing the Reality of the Pandemic with Traditional Brush Painting

From my series “The Quiet Spring,” the beginnings of the virus can be seen — at the time it wasn’t perceived as too serious and no one could predict that just two months later, it would become a global pandemic. The development of the epidemic inspired several series of large- and small-scale ink paintings with profound reflections.

Art and Fashion, Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseNovember 17, 2021Asian Representation, Art, artistsComment

Abundance: Across Oceans and Generations by Toronto artist Shellie Zhang 張雪萊

My latest project Abundance opened as an online exhibition with Patel Gallery for the 2020 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Featuring new sculptural, photographic and installation-based works, Abundance is a cyclical reflection on two actions: my relatives bringing pieces of cut fruit in my youth, and me leaving fruit offerings at ancestral graves.

Art and Fashion, Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseNovember 17, 2021Asian Representation, Art, artistsComment

Award-Winning Editorial: What’s in a Name

Using paper as medium and sculpture as method, this series brings to life the meaning of ten characters through each visual form.

Art and Fashion, Home-FeatureFête ChinoiseNovember 16, 2021Art, RecommendedComment

Brock DeBoer: A contemporary porcelain language in traditional blue and white

Brock De Boer's work is an archival snapshot of contemporary and nostalgic objects cast in porcelain telling my story. Casting an object from a past time or of a temporary material in porcelain allows that item to exist forever, telling the future a bit about the past.

Art and Fashion, Long Reads, Personal StoriesFête ChinoiseNovember 12, 2021Asian Representation, ceramics, Art, artists, sculptureComment

Stephanie H. Shih 石函玉:Capturing the Asian Diaspora through Ceramic Groceries

When she was just 11, Stephanie’s Chinese mother passed away, and because her father was white, she felt she had lost an important connection to her heritage. The porcelain dumpling reminded her of her mother, who died before teaching her how to fold real ones, and she would send me photos of herself travelling with the dumpling thereafter.