Karen Tam
House of Wong: A Division of Gold Mountain Restaurant
October 13–November 11, 2006

Karen Tam investigates perceptions of identity within Western and Chinese cultures using clichéd visual signifiers of Chinese restaurants such as the types of food, names of dishes, cooking methods, business names, restaurant
décor and menus, etc. Tam, a first generation Chinese-Canadian, is interested in the history of the Chinese restaurant in Western culture and the immigrant experience that has shaped the lives of restaurateurs. Utilizing her research of local Chinese eateries in Windsor, Tam will work in collaboration with restaurant owners and workers to create an installation incorporating the history of the restaurants to address and answer poignant questions about race, history, cultural traditions, and assimilation.