Local art gallery hosts tea ceremony to fight racism due to coronavirus fears
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 17:53:33 +0000
A local art gallery is inviting the public to participate in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, in an effort to promote inclusion and to combat racism spurred by coronavirus fears.
On Sunday, Vancouver’s Sunzen Art Gallery will host public by-donation tea ceremonies and tastings of aged Pu’er tea from the Yunnan province, known as the “birthplace of tea.” Informational pamphlets about COVID-19, which will have been verified by health professionals, will also be distributed at the event in both English and Chinese to help dispel myths and misinformation.
Gallery director Maggie Ning is from Qingdao, China, a coastal city like Vancouver and where she still has family.
She said she has watched with concern the coverage of the virus, from stories about COVID-19’s global spread, to local reports of racism prompted by bias and unfounded fear over the virus.
“We are art workers, and we bear certain social responsibilities,” said Ning of why an art gallery is taking action.
“As a gallery promoting Asian arts and culture, we are responsible to promote inclusiveness and diversity. Through this event, we would like to let people know more about the virus, see it objectively and treat it fairly.”
Tea is an essential part of Chinese life, said Ning, who noted that the tradition involves the gathering of family and sharing of conversation. Ning hopes the inclusive nature of the tea ceremony will counter the division that has come up in recent weeks.
VANCOUVER, B.C.: February 17, 2020 – Wang Lu pours tea inside Sunzen Art Gallery in Vancouver, B.C. on February 17, 2020. Sunzen Art Gallery, a gallery specializing in fine Chinese art and cultural collector pieces, is hosting a by-donation Chinese tea ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 23 to fight back against fear and racism in light of the coronavirus spread.
A tea artist will also be on hand at the event to answer questions and share about the history of the tea ceremony.
“It promotes a slow lifestyle, artistic elevation of any ordinary day, and it’s the essence of traditional Chinese philosophy,” said Ning. “The tea ceremony shows our passion to life, it connects people, and introduces Chinese culture to more people.”
On Sunday, tea ceremonies will run throughout the day between 1 and 5 p.m. at the gallery, with space for up to 10 people in each ceremony. A quick service table will also be set up for those wishing to try just a sip of tea and be on their way.
A tea master will be on hand to brew the tea and explain the various parts of the ceremony before taking visitors through a tasting of the different types of aged Pu’er tea. Visitors to the gallery can also take in Ren Zhong’s solo exhibition of gongbi paintings, with guided tours at 2 and 4 p.m.
The event is by donation, with all proceeds going to the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.
Sunzen Art Gallery opened its first location in Qingdao in 2002 before re-opening in Vancouver in 2018 at 420 Howe St. The gallery showcases cultural artifacts and Chinese art by both local and international creators.