Inspired by “shanzhai” culture, Rainbow Chan questions whether counterfeiting in all its representations can offer a unique perspective on creativity in contemporary China. Through obvious acts of copying, the counterfeiter reconfigures familiar commodities into incoherent signs. Gloss presents an interdisciplinary interpretation of this Chinese phenomenon via a site-specific installation featuring music, videos, sculptures and performances. Misusing tools designed to standardise sounds — such as translation apps, autotune, voice generators and file compression — Chan suggests that errors generated during the quantisation process constitute a metaphor about the impact of Westernisation on modern Chinese culture. Borrowing from the visual and sonic languages of advertising, Gloss’s garbled outcome alludes to the often innovative and tongue-in-cheek nature of knock-offs.
Chun Yin Rainbow Chan works across music, performance, and installation. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Sydney, Rainbow is interested in mistranslations, diaspora, and the impact of globalisation on modern Chinese society. The relationship between nostalgia, migration, and identity is the common thread linking her efforts across installation and pop music. She released her debut record Spacings (Silo Arts & Records) in 2016, which was featured on FBi Radio, Radio Adelaide, and RTRFM. She has been nominated for numerous awards including FBi SMAC 2016 for Best Live Act, Record of the Year, and AIR 2017 Best Dance / Electronica Album. Her stunning single "Let Me" won SMAC Best Song of 2017. Rainbow has performed live extensively, appearing at the Sydney Opera House, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Museum of Old and New Art, Iceland Airwaves and the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts. Her installations have been shown at Firstdraft Gallery, Liquid Architecture, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art and in the Longli International New Media Arts Festival, China.
“Art After Hours” is an evening event series presented by Tai Kwun Contemporary that will talk with you, sing with you, show and tackle something new every time. Usually held on Fridays at 7pm, “Art After Hours” aims to sharpen art awareness through talks, performances and screenings by artists, writers, intellectuals and curators alike.
