The annual tradition of reviewing mooncakes from the lens of culture and design is always a fun time. In the recent years, at Fete Chinoise, we have been in multiple positions — as a tastemaker, an observer, a critic, and a grateful recipient. When it comes to Chinese cultural traditions and gifting, this is our wheelhouse and passion, and we endeavour to #movecultureforward with every project we partake in and discussion that we spur.
Read MoreAn ode to Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore. Enjoy these unique mooncake flavours and creations captured by photographer and food content creator, Karl Ng.
Read MoreIt is not very often that a local artist is exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ontario, and even more rare that Asian-Canadian representation happens in the art space at this level of recognition. The AGO is presenting an exciting solo exhibition beginning August 13, 2021 to April 18, 2022 titled Matthew Wong: Blue View, featuring works by a Toronto-born Chinese Canadian artist. The first-ever museum show of Matthew Wong (1984-2019), the exhibition features his acclaimed Blue series of oil, gouache and watercolour paintings. The New York Times described him as “one of the most talented painters of his generation.” The exhibition features Wong’s expressive style through 31 paintings and nine works on paper from his Blue series (2017-2019).
Read MoreVisual artist Brendan Lee Satish Tang is widely known for his sculptural ceramic work. Tang’s work explores issues of identity and the hybridization of our material and non-material culture while simultaneously expressing a love of both futuristic technologies and ancient traditions. He discovered a passion for art and all of the doors it can open when he was a small child. Growing up in small-town Canada, his family were the only “people of colour” in town. Drawing allowed him to escape into a world of fantasy and it became a powerful form of communication. Art gave him a meeting ground to connect with the other kids at school. universe.
Read MoreTo celebrate Qixi Festival (the original Chinese Valentine’s Day) for 2021, Gucci has launched a unique collection named Gucci Les Pommes. We were inspired by the campaign art direction and imagery and are delighted to share and discuss all the details in their storytelling. Photographed by the incredible Leslie Zhang and directed by Zhuzi, the special dedicated campaign, named ‘How We Met’ features a group of characters including singer—member of WayV and SuperM—Lucas and supermodel Xiaowen Ju in Shanghai. The story centers around the gradual coming together of girls and boys in the iconic Chinese city.
Read MoreLawyer and Model Yinsey Wang interviewed her good friend, Berlin-based Chinese filmmaker, writer, lecturer and artist Xiaowen Zhu on her journey of creation. In this article, Yinsey captured Xiaowen’s reflections on her work, both new and old, with renewed interest and hindsight. Xiaowen, like her art, is never still and always finding new, unchartered territory. Having lived in many different places in the world, including Shanghai, Frankfurt, Upstate New York, Los Angeles and London, she has a rich collection of experiences to draw from. To Xiaowen, art represents self-expression, finding her purpose in the world, challenging presumptions of what is and what should be, and most importantly, redefining what could be.
Read MoreThe Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is proud to hold the largest and most significant collection of Chinese historical art in North America. This extraordinary collection comprises more than 41,000 pieces, many of which are objects of significant importance, rarity and value. Fête Chinoise shares with you some of our favourites in this article.
Read MoreWhich of the many colours best represents Chinese culture? Readers might say, the answer is obvious: Red! Indeed, the ancient Chinese people also appreciated colours other than red: colours such as purple. In this article, our contributor, Christina Han, shared the cultural history of purple in China. “From a much stigmatized colour, to technological wonder, a manifestation of Daoist spirituality, and finally a symbol of imperial authority, the colour purple evolved through China’s long history and eventually became an important part of Chinese visual culture. The story of purple reminds us of the rich diversity within Chinese culture that often gets overshadowed by simplified and exoticized representations of China inspired by popular consumerism and Orientalism. So next time you celebrate the Spring Festival, add a bit of purple in the sea of red and gold, and welcome the purple air coming from the east!”
Read MoreYang Yongliang, a contemporary artist from China, reimagines traditional Chinese landscape art with digital techniques to create dreamy techno visions of man in nature. His work employs contemporary images of cities and cars, which he alters and adjusts to fit within these classically composed and serene landscapes, maintaining a foggy black-and-white aesthetic. “Journey to the Dark II” is his first multi-channel 4K video.
Read MoreThe appearance of the qipao is the origin of modern Chinese fashion. Women adorned in high-collared and fitted qipao dresses were seen as embodying “oriental” beauty. A hundred years later, the qipao has weathered the storm of the many historical changes in China and established an irreplaceable position in modern Chinese culture. This charming dress form has become part of mainstream fashion around the world.
Read MoreCultures collide: where art meets game culture and tells a story that doesn't often get heard in Asian cultures. Just in time for Pride Month, read more on what Jasmine Chen, an Asian Canadian leader in theatre, thought about “A Summer’s End - Hong Kong 1986.” It is a breathtaking emotional narrative captured in a visual novel, created by Asian-Canadian game developers Charissa So and Tida Kietsungden. They are the hearts and minds behind Oracle & Bone, an independent game studio in Vancouver.
The story follows Michelle, a buttoned up office worker living in Hong Kong during the heydays of the 1980s. She meets Sam, a free-spirited woman and unconventional entrepreneur, by chance after an incident involving a broken heel. They share a mutual attraction, and the story takes off with emotion and addresses issues of identity not often forged in Chinese culture.
Who else is celebrating their first Father’s Day? Canadian singer songwriter Tyler Shaw has been producing music and sharing his thoughts from home throughout the pandemic. He also welcomed his baby daughter into the world, who pops up in his feed regularly! Happy first Father’s Day, Tyler! Last year, we had a chance to spend some time with Tyler (at the lovely Hazelton Hotel Toronto) to learn about his journey of music, his relationship with Chinese heritage, also his ArtistsCan project initiated with fellow Canadian artist, Fefe Dobson.
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