The sound of lions in Chinatown > created in collaboration with Hannia Cheng, Chinatown Chinese Lion Dance Group, and Northern Legs Southern Fists>  installation, performance > curated by Charlene Lau > Nuit Blanche (Toronto) > 2025 

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​​​In the 1950s, Toronto’s first Chinatown was expropriated and razed to build City Hall. A decade later, community activist Jean Lumb and the Save Chinatown Committee formed to successfully stop another wave of violent erasure. At the same time, the emergence of martial arts societies demonstrated another form of strength in Chinatown. Inspired by this campaign and the bravado of kung fu clubs, the sound of lions in Chinatown reimagines the use of the traditional paifang (village gates) as access points into the neighbourhood’s historical and contemporary fight against displacement. Taking the shape of entrances used by local grocers, this large-scale installation and opening lion dance procession pays tribute to a legacy of cultural survival and political activism that continues to shape the future of Chinatown today.

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The artist acknowledges the support of the Toronto Art Council, Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto.

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Photo documentation by Roya DelSol and Ibrahim Abusitta.   

Videography by Connor Wan. 

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Special thanks to: 

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Arlene Chan

Elene Lam and Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Worker Support Network

Winnie Ng

Alexandra Hong and the Chinatown Land Trust

The Chinatown Food Coop 

Gu

Steffi Ng

Amy Wang

Julian Diego

Melanie Ng

Koby Song

Adriel Ngo

Sandy Yep

Stefanie Wang

Julia To

Rene Ng

Ethan Duncan

Kiana Woo

Alex Vermey

Rick Wong

Celestija Mesic

Marcee (Marc Carter)

Chia Posuma

Alec Groom Yep

Yingyu Huang

Peter Rahul

Joy Xiang

Emerald Repard-Denniston

Zoey Kapusinski

Karen Chan

Dee Dee Decay

Chloe Rodriguez

Loanne ii tran

Jenny Zhen

Serene Yi-Shuan Mitchell

Leanne Lau

Jennifer Vong

D'arcy Langlois

Rei Xu

Jessica Zhu

Ying Wong

Jamie Lin

Margaret Griffiths

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