Centre A Intro
From May 1st to May 16th, we will be welcoming Sammy Chien as the inaugural artist-in-residence at Centre A’s new media gallery. During his time at Centre A, Chien will be working on research and development for a solo interdisciplinary new media performance piece, W(e)aves. This work will investigate migration, race and gender politics, transcultural identity, and spiritual philosophies, all articulated through Chien’s own performance language, which draws from digital technologies, audiovisuals, text, contemporary dance, and Qi Gong practices. W(e)aves will tell a story of life in Vancouver at the intersections of immigration, queerness, racialization, and mental illness.
Project description
I am working on research and development for a solo interdisciplinary new media performance work “W(e)aves”. This performance work will include dance/movement art, sound/music and interactive/new media projection. I’m planning to research with the guidance from the mentors that I trust, receive practical assistance and have opportunities to work deeply in developing myself as a solo performance artist. My goals are to create a performance work from my own performative language through Qi Gong, new media technologies, personal voice and expression relating to current sociopolitical issues in which encourage positive change. In this piece, I aim to share my own personal stories as a person of colour, immigrant and queer living in Vancouver who suffers from mental disorder due to the discriminations, and ultimately raise questions about social divisions and encourage positive change through movement art, Qi Gong, and new media technology.
Photo by Cyrus Wu
