Human Beast 衣冠禽獸
Costume, calligraphy and movement Duo performance with Shawn Tse (drums) for Dust Salon 2018, Mile Zero Dance Society, Edmonton AB
Sinophone Flag
Flag name: Love the Myriad; Heaven and Earth are One Sinophone 氾愛萬華，天地一華.
Digital Print on Nylon. 36 x 58” and installation,
Installed at Mile Zero Dance Society, Edmonton AB in 2020.
Photo credit: Mario P.
Still in Chinatown
Still in Chinatown projection installation and calligraphy
Installed at Gentrification Party, group performance.
Edmonton Nuit Blanche 2018, Edmonton AB
Photo credit: Heather Magusin Photography
Still in Chinatown, Still on Indigenous Land
11’ x 11’ silkscreen print protest patch
Designed for kamâmak nihtâwikihcikan ᑲᒫᒪᐠ ᓂᐦᑖᐃᐧᑭᐦᒋᑲᐣ garden in collaboration with Aiya Collective and Prairie Sage Protectors, Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre, Edmonton AB
O Return 魂魄歸來
Calligraphy, music and movement
Collaboration with Herman Lau (movement), Jia Jia Yong (konghou) and Vanessa Jong (drums)
Performed at Thousand Faces Festival 2022.
Photo credit: @matsimpsonphoto
About the Artist
Paul Giang (利炳坤) is an urban planner, calligrapher, and artist based in Edmonton. Since 2017, he has studied under a Chinese calligraphy master, and it has become his primary medium for relearning Cantonese. He has performed and installed artworks at various venues, including Thousand Faces Festival and Edmonton Nuit Blanche. Additionally, he has contributed to the inaugural issues of Colonial Imports (Calgary) and Hungry Zine (Edmonton) as a graphic artist.
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Ethnic Origins
East Asian , Southeast Asian
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Languages
Cantonese, English, French
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My Disciplines
Digital Arts, Multidisciplinary, Visual Arts
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Artist Statement
While younger generations may find the study of calligraphic works difficult or irrelevant, I have gained rich insights from this process. It has exposed me to diverse perspectives, allowing me to better appreciate the nuances and complexities of our world. Calligraphers are said to "paint" words, as if one can examine their thoughts and feelings. Following their brushwork, I reflect on the thinking that they went through to express themselves with such visual balance and harmony. Through my art, I connect perspectives, old and new, to help build a better sense of where we come from and the various paths we can take.