Qian Cheng: BILLBOARD 208 / What are your weekend plans? 你的周末计划是什么？

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Qian Cheng, "BILLBOARD 208 / What are your weekend plans? 你的周末计划是什么？," 2021

BILLBOARD 208 / What are your weekend plans? 你的周末计划是什么？

Artist / Qian Cheng

Exhibition Dates / February 23—May 23 2021

Link / http://www.thenewgallery.org/what-are-your-weekend-plans/

Exhibition Description /

What are your weekend plans? is a participatory project by Qian Cheng, created in consultation with the Calgary Chinatown Business Improvement Area. The project is a response to the ongoing global pandemic and its adverse effects on the socio-political and economic sectors experienced within the Chinese diasporic community in Calgary Chinatown. 

Acting as a visual directory of participating Calgary Chinatown businesses, Billboard 208 becomes a guidepost, redirecting public attention back into the surrounding community. Offering a simple idea based on the spirit of mutual aid, What are your weekend plans? encourages community support, dialogue, and public engagement within these businesses that have been particularly affected by economic constraints and xenophobic prejudices — heightened in the wake of COVID-19.

Consisting of two components, local businesses were encouraged to advertise their shop names and logos on Billboard 208. Pamphlets have been produced in conjunction with the exhibition to connect audiences to additional information about the businesses. The second component encourages folks to safely support at least 3 businesses in Calgary Chinatown in exchange for a free, What are your weekend plans? limited-edition tote bag designed by Qian Cheng. 

This support can be demonstrated in several ways: you can leave positive reviews on Google, Yelp, etc; share photos of your purchase or the business storefront with the hashtag #YYCChinatownWeekend; or DM photos to TNG’s Instagram! Be sure to tag @calgarychinatown and @the_new_gallery in your stories and posts. You can find a comprehensive list of Calgary Chinatown businesses here.