September 21 – March 31

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.

Tong Yan Gaai (or Chinatown in Cantonese) (2012-2024) is a newly commissioned installation of four lightboxes that capture the historical and ongoing transformation of Toronto’s Chinatown. Designed to reflect real-life dimensions, these lightboxes create an immersive experience, evoking the sensation of walking through or standing within these locations. This installation serves as a portal to both the past and the future, emphasising the dynamic nature of cultural transformation.

As part of this exhibition, an additional selection of images from the Tong Yan Gaai series are on display in Terminal 1, on Level 3 at the end of Aisles 1,2, and 3.

Commissioned by the Toronto Biennial of Art and co-presented by 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.

Donors & Supporters

Eleanor and Francis Shen

Partners

Toronto Pearson Airport