Don Kwan
Focus on Chinatown | Ottawa, Ontario
A third-generation Chinese Canadian, Don Kwan turns to his own experiences and challenges of being a gay, East Asian artist as a way to ground in broader conversations about identity, representations, and intergenerational memory-making in the diaspora. Kwan regularly draws from common and powerfully symbolic found objects and forms. He redeploys them in provocative, and playful ways; delivering complex, and nuanced concepts in an open framework for interpretation that evokes both familiarity and wonder.
About the Project
The Mapping Memory Project will activate Ottawa’s Chinatown by displaying historical photos in storefront windows, showcasing key moments and individuals from the neighborhood's past. Public unveilings will include seniors and their families alongside current business owners, deepening connections with Chinatown’s history.
The initiative aims to engage shop owners, pedestrians, locals, and tourists, promoting civic engagement and the revitalization of Chinatown’s cultural identity. It addresses challenges like COVID-19, anti-Asian hate, and gentrification, preserving cultural identity and enhancing community resilience. By collaborating with community stakeholders, the project honours Chinatown’s past and supports its future through art and storytelling.