Artist Talk With Shirley Tse: From Stakeholders to Searching for Zero Impact Sculpture

“What does a sculptural practice look like when it is sustainable for our ecosystem, finances, and mental health?”

Shirley Tse is an acclaimed California-based, Hong Kong-born artist whose sculptural and installation-based practice interrogates questions of place, politics, and ecology. Her recent work critically examines injustices embedded within contemporary art infrastructures, particularly through sculpture’s reliance on material extraction and production, fabrication, transportation, and the use of physical space.

Focusing on Tse’s projects since her solo presentation representing Hong Kong at the 58th Venice Biennale in 2019, this talk considers the stakes of artistic practice amid overlapping democratic and climate crises. The presentation will be followed by a moderated discussion with Olivia Chow, Director of Curatorial Programs, Chinese Canadian Museum.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, January 15, 2026

• Location: Emily Carr University of Art + Design (520 E 1st Ave), Interactive Motion Capture Studio (IMS)

• Time & Schedule:
  3 to 3:30 P.M. – Artist talk with Shirley Tse: “From Stakeholders to Searching for Zero Impact Sculpture”
  3:30 to 3:50 P.M. – Moderated discussion: Shirley Tse in conversation with Olivia Chow
  3:50 to 4:15 P.M. – Audience Q&A

• Cost: Free

• Register: RSVP here

This event will be conducted in English.

Co-presented with the Audain Faculty of Art at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, with support by the BMO Campus Culture Pass.