illustration by Celest Brown City At The joor Kum Chi-Keung by Adrienne Lai On July 1st, 1997, Britain's lease on Hong Kong expires and the colony will be passed back to China. This event has particular significance for Vancouver, as the city has become the destination of choice for many Hong Kong citizens — many nervous at the prospect of life under Communist rule. This surge in Asian immigration into Vancouver has created societal conflicts within the city, as it experiences some cultural growing pains. If any region has a stake in learning about Hong Kong, it is Vancouver. City at the End of Time: Hong Kong 1997 is a series of exhibitions thematically centred around Hong Kong, fea- turing artists and writers from Hong Kong, the United States and Canada. At the Fotobase Gallery is Past and Future, an installa- tion by Choi Yan Chi. A mini classroom environment is recreated in the gallery, with rows of desks pointing towards a blackboard. On the walls around the desks are photographs of grafittied wooden desktops, with car- toons and childhood declarations of love carved into them. Aesthetically, the installation suffers somewhat from being crammed into FotoBase’s small space; however, the claustrophobic and sterile atmosphere is appropriate to the rigidity of the Hong Kong educational system. Although banal at first, the photographs serve as a rather affecting counterpoint to the strict rows of desks. The bits of graffiti, as small rebellious gestures, are at the times quite poignant: initialed hearts and arrows are fol- lowed by the question, “Will you still love me tomor- row?", a reminder of the uncertainly of love and of the uncertainty of Hong Kong's future. Up the street at the Access Gallery are installations by Jamelie Hassan and Kum Chi Keung. Hassan’s front window installation, Not Unlike Hong Kong, is comprised of a few wooden model boats churn- ing on a sea of shredded paper. Text on the window tells of the connections between Bombay-built ships and British colonization in the Far East: for example, the treaty ceding Hong Kong to Britain was signed aboard a Bombay-built ship. The shredded paper resembles packing material and refers to Hong Kong (and perhaps Vancouver) as a port city and centre of trade and com- merce. The destroyed papers also evoke the idea of destroyed documents, and of the British treaty that will soon expire. Inside the Access Gallery, Kum Chi Keung’s installation Door, consists of three walls of stacked bamboo birdcages enclosed in a space the size of a small closet. Hong Kong real estate ads are dispersed throughout the installation, and the sound of chirping birds haunts the space. Keung’s installation succeeds in its experientially evocative recre- ation of Hong Kong's densely crammed and noisy envi- ronment. <@ City at the End of Time: Hong Kong 1997 also features exhibitions at Artspeak and Helen Pitt Galleries, and runs from February 11 to March 15th. Their Website is at www.webcorp.ca/artspeak. ae iVWWWV Anxieties Dear Ms. Manners, Is there anything you can do about the political in-fighting occuring in recent issues of Planet of the Arts? It's tedious and has become a forum for personal griev- ances. Why not get back to the original purpose of publishing art- related info? Three ideas: highlighting some of the exceptional work currently being produced at ECIAD, inter- viewing present and past students about their experiences and insights, and finally, making the paper more enjoyable to appeal to a wider audience. If anyone, Ms. Manners, you have the power to turn things around. Signed, Planet Out Of Hand. Dear Hand, Ms. Manners prefers settling dif- ferences by way of the schoolyard scrap. YY Dear Ms. Manners: Is it proper manners for a man to ask a woman to a movie and dinner, and then say “I’ve done ate, never mind”. Signed, Pissed Off Dear Pissed: Let's consider a few possibilities. Was it understood that he would pay for dinner? Is possible that he was low on cash and too embar- rassed to fess up? [Which is better than what happened to Ms. Manners. She was invited out as someone's ‘guest’ for dinner at a well regarded and pricey establish- ment. When the check arrived her March 1997 / Planet of the Arts 51 . Manners date timidly said (after drinking two bottles of very expensive wine and ordering the most costly item on the menu) “Sorry, but I’m a bit low on cash tonight” and proceed- ed to show her his empty wallet. Guess who paid the entire bill! Now that’s bad manners.] Back to your question. If he indeed ate without regard to his invitation — bad manners! If he just said he ate because he didn’t want to spend the remainder of the evening with you — he’s bad man- nered with cowardly tendencies! But who cares? Why would you want to spend time with someone like that anyway! P.S. Maybe he just had gas. P.P.S. You ought to respond by saying, “How dare you done ate and never mind me like nobody never not dares done ate!” A Dear Ms. Manners: | went to a restaurant the other day. A boy was eating with his hat on. Is this always considered bad manners? Signed, Bobby Taylor Dear Bobby Taylor: A boy should not have a hat on in most public places and especially when dining — although, it can depend on the menu. A Dear Ms. Manners: This question is concerning my wedding. What is the proper way that the court should be entering the church and reception. Could you please tell me in what fashion should the flower girl, ring boy, bridesmaids and grooms, parents, and bride enter the wedding....Everyone keeps telling me a different way...Please help. Signed, Carmen D. Dear Carmen: The court should be entering the church as follows: ushers, bridesmaids, maid or matron of honor, flower girl, ring bearer, bride and father of bride. The ring bearer should take his place behind the bride and groom and next to the best man so that the ring is easily accessible. Now to the recep- tion. This is the most traditional, but receiving lines vary according to regional custom. The mother of the bride is usually first in the receiving line. The groom's mother is next, followed by the groom's father, bride, groom, maid or matron of honor, and the brides- maids. The father of the bride and the ushers usually mix with the guests. If you want the bride's father and ushers in the receiving line, the bride’s father would be placed between the bride’s mother and the groom's mother. The ushers follow the bridesmaids. A Y Ms. Manners Monthly Tip How to toast the Queen: The toastmaster rises and says: “Ladies and gentlemen, we will toast the Queen.” Stand, pick up your glass and raise it. The toast- master again says: “The Queen.” You repeat: “The Queen.” Refrain from smoking. If you are the Queen and are being toasted, remain seated. Never drink a toast to yourself. s@ Think Emily Carr Institute Jim Breukelman, Dean of Media Glen Clark, Honorary Patron of the Institute Fundemental Theorem: b F (culture) = Admissions (604) 844-3850 art(x) design(y) media(z) Endowments 844-3871 Scott Gallery 844-3811 Suzanne Holland Media Division (Animation) Planet of the Arts Magazine 844-3861 City At The by Adrienne Lai (on July st, 1997, Britain’ lease on Hong Kong expires and the colony wil be passed back to China. Ths event hhas particular significance for Vancouver, asthe city has ‘become the destination of choice for many Hong Kong citizens ~ many nervous at the prospect of life under Communist rule ‘his surge in Asian immigration into Vancouver has created Societal conflicts within the city, as experiences ‘some cultural growing pains If any region has a stake in learning about Hong Kong, itis Vancouver. ‘ity atthe End of Time: Hong Kong 1997s a series of ‘exhibitions thematically centred around Hong Kong, fa {uring artists and waiters from Hong Kong, the United States and Canada [At the Fotobase Galler is Past and Future, an installa tion by Choi Yan Chi. A mini classroom environment is recreated in the gallery, with rows of desks pointing towards a blackboard. On the walls around the desks are photographs of grafitied wooden desktops, with car {toons ond childhood declarations of love carved into them ‘Aesthetically, the installation suffers somewhat from boeing crammed into FotoBase's small space; however, the laustrophobic and sterile atmosphere is appropriate to the rigsity of the Hong Kong educational system ‘Although banal at first, the photographs serve as a rather affecting counterpoint tothe strict rows of desks The bits of graft, as small rebellious gestures, are at the times quite poignant: initialed hearts and arcows are fo: owed by the question, “Will you stl love me tomor: row? a reminder of the uncertainly of love and of the Uncertainty of Hong Kong’s future. Up the street atthe Acces Galery are installations by Jamelie Hassan and Kum Chi Keung. Hassan’s front window installation, Not Unlike Hong ong, is comprised of a few wooden model boats churn Jing on a sea of shredded paper. Text on the window tells ‘of the connections between Bombay-bult ships and British colonization in the Far East: for example, the treaty ceding Hong Kong to Britain was signed aboard a Bombay-built ship. The shredded paper resembles packing material and refers to Hong Kong (and perhaps Vancouver) as 2 port city and centre of trade and com merce. The destroyed papers also evoke the idea of destroyed documents, and of the British treaty that wal s00n expire ‘Inside the Access Gallery, Kum Chi Keung’ installation Door, consists of three walls of stacked bamboo birdeages enclosed ina space the size of a small closet. Hong Kong Feal estate ads are dispersed throughout the installation, land the sound of chirping bieds hunts the space. Keung’s installation succeeds init experientialy evocative rere: ation of Hong Kong's densely crammed and noisy envi Fonment. City at the End of Time: Hong Kong 1997 alo features exhibitions at Arspeak and Helen Pit Galleries, and runs from February 11 to March 15th. Their Website & at wwvw.webcorp.ca/artspeak. iWW) Anxieties Dear Ms. Manners, 1s there anything you can do about the politcal infighting ‘curing in recent issues of Planet of the Ars? It's tedious and has become a forum for personal griev- ances. Why not get back to the original purpose of publishing art related info? Three ideas: highlighting some of the exceptional work currently being produced at ECIAD, inter viewing present and past students about their experiences and Insights, and finaly, making the ‘oper more enjoyable t0 appeal to 8 wider audience. if anyone, Ms. Manners, you hhave the power to turn things around. Signed, Planet Out OF Hand. ear Hand, IMs. Manners prefers settling dif ferences by way of the schoolyard a Dear Ms. Manners: sit proper manners for a man to ask a woman t0.a movie and inner and then say “Ive done ‘ate, never mind” Signed, Pised Off Dear Pissed! Lets considera few possibilities. \as it understood that he would pay for dinner? Is possible that he ‘was low on cash and too embar- Fassed to fess up? [Which is better than what happened to Ms Manners. She was invited out as someone's guest’ for dinner at 3 well regarded and pricey establish- ment. When the check arrived her Dear date timidly said (after drinking ‘wo bottles of very expensive wine ‘and ordering the most costly item fon the menu) “Sorry, but m a bit Tow on cash tonight” and proceed: fed to show her his empty walle. ‘Guess wino paid the entire bill Now thats bad manners] Back to your question. fhe indeed ate ‘without regard to his invitation ~ ‘bad manners! If he just said he ‘ate because he didnt want to Spend the remainder of the ‘evening with you~ he's bad man- ‘ered with cowardly tendencies! But who cares? Why would you want to spend time with someone Tike that anyway! PS. Maybe he just had gas PRS. You ought to respond by saying, "How dare you done ate ‘and never mind me like nobody ever not dares done ate!” a Dear Ms. Manners Twent to 3 restaurant the other day, A boy was eating with his hat ‘on. fs this always considered bad Signed, Bobby Taylor ear Bobby Taylor: 'A boy should not have a hat on in most public places and especially ‘when dining although, it can Sepend on the menu a Dear Ms: Manners: This question is concerning my wedding. What is the proper way thatthe court should be entering the church and reception. Could {you please tell me in what fashion ‘Should the flower gil ring boy March 1997 / Planet of the Arts 51 SIMs. Manners. bridesmaids and grooms, parents, and bride enter the wedding...Everyane keeps telling ‘me a different way..Please help. Signed, Carmen D. Dear Carmen: “The court should be entering the church a follows: ushers, bridesmaids, maid or matron of honor, flower gt, ring bearer, bride and father of bride. The ring beater should take his place behing the bride and groom and next to the best man so thatthe rng is easly accesible, Now to the recep: tion. This isthe most tradition, but receiving lines vary according toregional custom. The mother of the bride is usually fist in the receiving line. The groom's mother isnext, followed by the groom's father, bride, groom, maid or ‘matron of honor, and the brides maids. The father ofthe bride and the ushers usually mix with the guests. If you want the bride’ father and ushers in the receiving line, the bride’ father would be placed between the bride's mother and the groom's mother. The Ushers follow the bridesmaids, A IMs. Manners Monthly Tip, How to toast the Queen: “The toastmaster ries and says: Ladies and gentlemen, we will toast the Queen.” Stand, pick up your glass and raise it. The toast- ‘master again says: “The Queen.” You repeat: "The Queen." Refrain from smoking. you are the Queen and are being toasted, remain seated. Never drink a toast to yourself. ® Think Emily Carr Institute Fundemental Theorem: F (culture) art(x) design(y) media(z) ‘Suzanne Holla Planet ofthe Arts Magazine