Faber Mo Neifer: It’s All Chinese To Me
Date: February 22 to September 6, 2025
Location: Town Centre Park Community Centre (1207 Pinetree Way)
It’s All Chinese To Me is a photographic series in which Faber Mo Neifer explores the ways in which Chinese people are othered, and asserts belonging for himself and the Chinese diaspora in Canada. Taken during several road trips over the last few years, the artist sought to understand through observation, the way he was being looked at as a mixed-race Chinese person in Canada. This series of photographs is an inquiry into the ways in which people are perceived, how people choose to present themselves, and a love letter to the resilience of a community.
The series depicts the signs of Chinese restaurants from across Canada. The Chinese restaurant has played a significant role in the history of Chinese people in North America. While they were once confined to segregated Chinatown neighbourhoods, Chinese restaurants and businesses have become prevalent in communities of all sizes. This prevalence is one of the greatest signifiers of the spread and integration of the Chinese diaspora within the social fabric of Canada today. Adorned by the same exaggerated design elements that originated in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Chinese restaurants across North America are frequently centred at the heart of discussions on authenticity, cultural appreciation and integration.
Faber Mo Neifer is a lens-based artist based in Coquitlam. His practice is rooted in the discursive nature of photographic images, exploring contemporary identity. He completed his Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts with a concentration in Photography at Concordia University, and graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design with a major in Photography and a minor in Social Practices and Community Engagement.
This exhibition is part of the 2025 Capture Photography Festival Selected Exhibition Program.
Image Credit: Faber Mo Neifer, Wong's Kitchen, Swift Current, SK, 2022.