September 21 – December 1
Tong Yan Gaai (or Chinatown in Cantonese) (2012-2024) is a newly commissioned installation of four lightboxes that show the connection between Toronto’s Chinese community and Union Station. In the late 1800s, workers from China came to work on the Canadian Pacific Railway. They started Toronto’s first Chinatown near Union Station. In the 1950s, the city took over the old Chinatown to build a new city hall. This caused businesses to shut down and people to move, creating a new Chinatown further west. The railway played a big part in creating many Chinatowns across Canada, including in the Greater Toronto Area.
As part of the Biennial, an additional selection of images from the Tong Yan Gaai (Chinatown) series are on display at Pearson International Airport in Terminal 1 – Departure Level 3.
Morris Lum is a photographer and artist whose practice explores the Chinese Canadian community’s hybrid identities and the evolution of Chinatowns across North America. His work, which blends photography, documentary practices, and archival materials, speaks to concepts of home and belonging, often by unveiling how Chinese history is portrayed in the media.
Commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art and co-presented with Toronto Pearson Airport. Made possible with the generous support of Eleanor and Francis Shen and Partners in Art.
Bio
Morris Lum (1983; he/him) is a Trinidadian-born photographer/artist whose work explores the hybrid nature of the Chinese-Canadian community through photography, form and documentary practices. His work also examines the ways in which Chinese history is represented in the media and archival material. Morris’ work has been exhibited and screened across Canada, and the United States.
Morris is currently working on a cross North America project that looks specifically at the transformation of Chinatown.
Location
- Accessibility
Toronto Union Station
The entrance to the train station is accessible by wheelchair. A wheelchair lift is available.
Building is AODA-compliant
Parking: Paid Green P parking is available at 40 York Street
- Getting There
Toronto Union Station
By subway: Union Station is located on Line 1.
By streetcar: The 509 Harbourfront goes directly to the Union Station streetcar platform.
UP Express: The UP express can be taken directly from the airport to Union Station.
Donors & Supporters
