Art & Labour

Chinese art has long been appreciated in Britain and the West, whereas Chinese people and their labour is typically seen as dirty and unskilled. My ceramic takeaway boxes contrast this undervalued labour in Chinese takeaways and restaurants with the high esteem given to Chinese art.

Chinese takeaways have a significant role in the economic, social, and cultural lives of the Chinese diaspora. Chinese cuisine first appeared in Britain in the 1880s, primarily in Liverpool and London. My grandparents moved to Yorkshire from Guangdong, China in the 1960s and set up a popular restaurant, the ‘Sunrise’.

Traditional Chinese opera, with its distinctive costume and masks, has been performed since ancient times. Here, the mask represents the invisibility of the British Chinese as well as the common inclination of many second and third generation immigrants to reconnect with Chinese culture following a period of resistance.