Generation One

Image credit: Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society

The 16th annual month-long festival to celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Metro Vancouver – explorASIAN 2012 – feature “Generation One Art Exhibition” as one of its signature programs at multiple sites throughout Metro Vancouver during the month of May, 2012.  GENERATION ONE, as one of Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society’s signature programs, is a platform for local artists to showcase their artworks in the community. It is a distinctive art exhibition that features artworks of inter-cultural and inter-generation Pan-Asian artists, found in the dynamic area of Metro-Vancouver.

A special purpose of this year’s art exhibition is to put the spotlight on young artists who are either home-grown first-generation Asian-Canadians or new immigrants. In order to nurture and support young local talents, the Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) has entered a new partnership with the International Arts Gallery to co-present a two-part exhibition at the International Arts Gallery from May 4 to 25, 2012.

GENERATION ONE 3D Art Exhibition at Irving K. Barber Center, UBC, May 4- May 25, 2012

Curated by VAHMS artists, this 3D exhibition will demonstrate the art of poetry as expressed in 3-dimensional art forms from different Asian cultural traditions. Check out the glass cases in the lobby and corridor at the IKBLC.

Image Credit: Lee Jong Jin

Lee Jong Jin

Born in Seoul, South Korea and trained at the Department of Sculpture at  Seoul’s Hong-Ik University, Lee Jong Jin has been a professional artist since 1997.  Between 1997 and 2008, Lee has had seven solo exhibition and 60 group exhibitions in Korea.   Having immigrated to Canada in 2008, Lee has exhibited with the Korean Artists Association in Canada, and serving as president of the Korean Artists Association from 2010 to 2011.

My sculptures are an expression of my past,  present, and inner happiness.  I strive to maximize impact and meaning through simple forms.  Children, love, happiness, and nature are my favourite subjects.  I love stone sculptures.  I hope my work warms hearts as hard as stone and helfs make the world a more loving place.  [출처] Lee Jong Jin |작성자 모난돌이

Ju-Ann Hu

Image credit: Ju-Ann Hu

Influenced by ancient cultures, Irene Ju-Ann Hu uses the language of multidimensional modern art to map myths or legends into visual expression. She works with ancient symbols to guide the viewer on a path towards active participation. I paint with oils and pigments, and create sculpture in wood and stone. Each piece becomes an individual note within a larger composition. After completing her BFA at the Royal Fine Art School in Den Bosch, Netherlands, she worked for two years with several accomplished artists and other master students at Universitait der Kunst, Berlin, Germany. Many cultures, philosophies, myths  and symbols have influenced my thoughts and my creativity.  Irene Ju-Ann is a Vancouver artist, she was born in China, move to Netherlands in 1979, was raised up in Nethelands. She studied in Berlin, Germany. In 2001 she moved to Leuven, Belgium. In 2006 she moved to Vancouver, Canada.

Contact: Celia Leung, Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society Program Coordinator

February 20, 2012 – April 30, 2012

RETELL
Focusing on the history of the Tōhoku region, this part of the exhibition includes Edo and Meiji-period works from the library’s Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era collection. The exhibition will highlight disaster prints such as those depicting catfish and dragons, common in Edo-period illustrated accounts of earthquakes and tsunamis. Historical maps of the areas affected by the 2011 disasters will also be displayed.
Location: Rare Books and Special Collections, Lower Level, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (click for map & hours)

RETHINK
Here the exhibition looks at the issue of nuclear energy and the debate that has taken place in Japan on this issue. As well, the exhibition highlights social media as a form of alternative media and information sharing in the wake of the disasters. Included in this part of the exhibition:

Nuclear imagery courtesy of Professor John O’Brian

Atomic bomb exposed tile donated to UBC by the Hiroshima University

Photos of anti-nuclear protests in Tokyo, contributed by UBC Alum Maho Harada

Japan Quake Map courtesy of Paul Nicholls

Twitter feeds contributed by UBC Alum Kozue Matsumoto

Facebook archives submitted by UBC Alum Brad Morrison

Animated video “nuclear poo”

Location: Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Foyer (click for map & hours)

RECOVER
The final part of the exhibit uses the Asian Library collection as well as community contributions to recount Japan’s capacity to recover from adversity. The March 2011 earthquake and tsunami are examined, as well as past natural disasters that have struck the country. The exhibit features:

Ishinomaki handwritten newspaper reproductions (created in the days after the tsunami struck the Ishinomaki region)
– digital files courtesy of the Japan Newspaper Museum

Images of the Tsunami-affected region of Ogatsu, by UBC Alum Maho Harada

Images and blog entries related to volunteer relief efforts originating in Canada courtesy Manabu Ogawa

Postcards depicting the 1926 Tokyo earthquake courtesy Professor John O’Brian

Red Cross letter of recognition courtesy of the UBC Japan Association

Location: Asian Library (click for map & hours)

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