After Exclusion, Happy Fruit

After Exclusion, Happy Fruit by queer Chinese-Canadian brothers Ed Kwan (aka China Doll) and Don Kwan explores two centenary legacies. The first: the federal government of Canada’s racist enactment of the Chinese Immigration Act on July 1, 1923, which effectively banned persons of Chinese origin from entering Canada for 24 years before it was repealed. And the second: the Kwan family’s own centennial in Canada – a legacy that began with the arrival of their maternal grandfather Chow Kwai Fong in British Columbia. The exhibition delves into the legacies in two parts. Through installation, sculpture and performance, Don and Ed challenge traditional cultural norms and reflect on the intersections of culture, identity and history. Their remarkable works embody the power of art as expression, truth-telling and activism.

Don Kwan acknowledges the support from the City of Ottawa, Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.