Exploring Gu Xiong's Art: Migration and Globalization

This exhibition at the Museum of Vancouver traces the evolution of Gu Xiong’s artistic practice and the major influences that defined it.

An artist stands confidently in front of a large abstract artwork that features a black and white mesh pattern. The artist is dressed in a matching patterned outfit, with a paint bucket at their feet, in a well-lit studio with wooden floors and large windows. — The artist in 2026 in front of his performance installation, ***Enclosures*** (1989-2026)

Born in Chongqing, China and based in Vancouver, BC, Gu spent time as a labourer during the Cultural Revolution, faced challenges as a Canadian immigrant, built an academic career as a professor at UBC, and explored global migration—all the while committing to his artistic practice.

A person standing next to a large sculpture made of stacked cardboard boxes with cut-out faces, in a modern indoor space. — ***Yellow Cargo*** (2016-26) a large-scale installation that explores globalization through the lens of migrant workers in Canada.

An internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist, Gu works across mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, video, and site-specific installations. “His work redefines how we understand migration, hybridity, and globalization,” the museum says.

A man with dark hair stands with crossed arms in front of a red wall covered in black calligraphy. — The artist in front of his painting, My Own Words, 1996

The website of Gu Xiong

His extensive bio, here.

Becoming: The Art of Gu Xiong – on through Feb. 7, 2027 at The Museum of Vancouver

A profile of the artist, and the exhibition, in The Tyee, May 2026

A good article below, in Preview Art Magazine.

Image at top of post: Gu Xiong in front of his Crushed Cans painting and silkscreen print series (1991-93), an embodiment of his experience with culture shock.