Chee-Hann Wu

Beyond Chinese: The Evolution of Taiwanese-Canadian Identity in Canada

14 June 2023 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Charlie Smith. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, a cultural producer generated considerable discussion within the Taiwanese diaspora in North America. It came when Charlie Wu wrote an article declaring: “I’m a Taiwanese Canadian, not a Chinese Canadian.” It was the managing director of the Asian-Canadian Special Events Association’s personal response to being constantly labelled as Chinese in his adopted country. In fact, Wu was even included in the list of the top 100 influential Chinese Canadians in British Columbia in a 2006 article in the Vancouver Sun.

Time Travel Dialogue of Two Iconic Artists: Emily Carr (Canada) & Chen Cheng-Po (Taiwan)

13 June 2023 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Charlie Smith. Emily Carr (1871-1945), who grew up on the West Coast of Canada, made her mark with vivid paintings of local scenery. She depicted changes in the landscape of British Columbia, touching upon industrialization. Carr was strongly influenced by Fauvism, which was advanced by Henri Matisse, André Derain, and other artists in France. Similarly, Taiwanese artist Chen Cheng-po (1895-1947) devoted much of his career to painting the natural landscape in bold, vivid colours. His oil paintings touched upon industrialization in Taiwan, and he, too, was influenced by Fauvism.

Touring Indigenous music from Taiwan in Canada—the lessons of Kanatal

12 June 2023 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Charlie Smith. Last September, when the band Kanatal walked onto the stage in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, it marked a milestone. This was the culmination of the first Canadian tour by a group of Indigenous musicians from Taiwan. After performing in several Canadian cities, the four members—guitarist Masaw Ali, keyboard player Suana Emuy Cilangasay, singer Abus Tanapima, and drummer Vangacu Kalevuwan—were eager to impress a crowd that had gathered for the signature event of TAIWANfest Vancouver.

A Dialogue between Taiwan and Canada

9 June 2023 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Chee-Hann Wu. The world is filled with diverse cultures and histories, each with its unique narratives and connections. This special issue explores Taiwan and Canada’s fascinating cultural and historical ties. Despite their geographical distance, these two nations share surprising parallels that have shaped their identities and fostered mutual understanding. From immigration patterns to artistic influences, this special issue demonstrates how the cultural and historical connection between Taiwan and Canada is a testament to the power of shared experiences and the ability of diverse nations to forge meaningful bonds.

Wave Makers on Netflix: A Vision of Taiwanese Politics Not ‘Amid Tensions’

10 May 2023 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Chieh-Ting Yeh. “Wave Makers” (2023; 人選之人-造浪者) is a new drama on Netflix about political staffers trying to win a presidential election in the last few months of the campaign. This may sound like the premise of many television shows in the political intrigue genre, but it is the first of its kind from Taiwan to be available to a worldwide audience. The drama addresses various political issues relevant to contemporary Taiwan, including environmental concerns, energy policies, and workplace sexual harassment, reflecting the ongoing public debates on these topics. But it is glaring in what it is missing: Taiwan-China relations.

The Limits of “Ecological Development”: Making Existing Lifeworlds Visible on Taipei’s Shezidao

5 May 2023 Chee-Hann Wu

Written by Aaron Su. In March 2023, yet another round of protests broke out in response to development plans on Taipei’s Shezidao, a flood-prone peninsula on the outer edges of the city home to over 11,000 residents. Spanning multiple mayoral regimes, the Taipei government’s plans to construct on the currently development-restricted Shezidao has been met with dissatisfaction time and again from its residents, who worry about how seemingly optimistic promises of uplift and revitalization spell evictions and other drastic changes to their existing economies, social networks, and modes of life.

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