bio
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Laiwan is an artist and writer recognized for her interdisciplinary practice based in poetics and philosophy. Born in Zimbabwe of Chinese parents, she immigrated to Canada in 1977 to leave the war in Rhodesia. In 1983, graduating from Emily Carr College of Art & Design, Laiwan started the OR Gallery in Vancouver. She has initiated various curatorial projects including the First Vancouver Lesbian Film Festival in 1988, and, the Zimbabwean Women in Contemporary Culture Trust in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1990 (this project has now expanded to include women from the Southern African region). Laiwan has participated in a variety of exhibitions in Canada, the US, Japan and Europe as well as being involved in gay, lesbian, feminist and ‘of colour’ community-based organizing. She holds an MFA degree in Interdisciplinary Arts from Simon Fraser University. Her writing can be found in various journals. There are two publications of her work: distance of distinct vision (Vancouver: Western Front, 1992) and SEEK : books and collages / livres et collages (Montréal: Galerie Articule, 1998). A catalogue examining her multi-media installation Quartet for the Year 4698 or 5760 is forthcoming from Open Space Gallery, Victoria. Laiwan currently teaches at Goddard College, Vermont,
in the MFA
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