Arts

October 6, 2023 0

“Faces of Life” – The Fifth Annual Taiwan Film Festival of Boston

The fifth annual Taiwan Film Festival of Boston (TFFB) took place on September 23-24. TFFB is a non-profit organization established by a group of young professionals in Boston in 2019 with the goal of bringing Taiwan’s films to the U.S every year. This year, TFFB selected six different films that have not been screened in American theaters or on streaming platforms to represent the 2023 theme “Faces of Life,”. They explored a variety of issues and professions as well as […]

October 6, 2023 0

Hao Ruoqi “Spellbinding” Performance of Mulan at the Wang Theater

by Harmony Witte

An ancient Chinese tale was told on the stage. For two nights only, September 23rd and 24th, China Arts and Entertainment Group brought the legend of Mulan to Boston for its US Premier. Winner of the 2018 Lotus Award for a Dance Drama, Mulan explores the folk story of a young woman who goes on a journey of self-discovery, taking her elderly father’s place in the army in the fight against the Huns. Mulan disguises herself as a man and […]

October 6, 2023 0

Humanity, Nature Shine Through Japanese Island’s Dark History

by Adam Smith

Surrounding Oshima, a tiny island in Southwest Japan, is the calm, blue Seto Inland Sea. The island itself is a place of beauty: Nearly everywhere are manicured trees and shrubs including matsu pines that look like over-sized bonsai, Japanese maples, mountain peach trees, and tsubaki, a type of camellia with deep green leaves that in winter blooms vibrant red flowers. Views of other mountainous islands further out at sea are visible from all over Oshima, especially along the winding trails […]

September 15, 2023 0

Little Amal Begins Her US Walk in Boston

by Harmony Witte

A 10-year-old Syrian girl stepped off a boat in Boston Harbor on September 7th—a beacon of hope encountering a new land. Her name is Amal, and she was without parents, a stranger in a strange place, displaced from her home and everything she knew. But Little Amal was not alone; observing closely, she was surrounded by a sea of people who came to greet the 12-foot-tall puppet along with her three puppeteers. Two of the puppeteers were operating her arms […]

September 1, 2023 0

‘Realm of Appearances’ at MFA Gives Window Into Brief Life of Artist Matthew Wong

by Harmony Witte

The Matthew Wong retrospective, The Realm of Appearances is on display now at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It is a moving exhibit with around 40 examples of the self-taught contemporary artist’s work. The retrospective spans the 6 short years of Wong’s career as an outsider artist after he began to paint and draw steadily until he took his life at the age of 35 in 2019. In the exhibit are some rare examples of his early work and a […]

August 4, 2023 0

At Home in Chinatown Exhibit: An Interview with Curator Lily Song

by Harmony Witte

This reporter attended the opening reception of the exhibit called “At Home in Chinatown: A Residence Lab Retrospective” and the accompanying workshop “Remembering and Remaking Chinatown” at the Pao Arts Center on July 27th. The exhibit featured work and photographs of the processes of six local artists who participated in the Residence Lab and completed site-specific projects during the last four years of the program. There were 4 key themes on display in the show, including art as cultural belonging, […]

May 27, 2023 0

Resilience and Beyond: Asian American Film Festival on GBH World

by Sonia Cavazos

GBH WORLD has created a lineup of films in honor of AAPI slated for the entire month of May. There will be a total of four programs on WORLD; three will be full-length documentaries, and seven short films titled, Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond. The intersection of recognizing emerging filmmakers from different backgrounds while highlighting diversity and culture is something that GBH WORLD takes pride in. GBH’s General Manager for Television, Liz Cheng discussed the return to the […]

May 27, 2023 0

A Tailor’s Journey: Kim Pham’s legacy from Vietnam to Copley Square

by Clare Ong, Natalia Madera, and Shandra Back

Editor’s Note: In honor of Asian American Pacific Islanders Month, Sampan presents the second of two video essays. The best journalism tells stories, provides forums for voices heretofore unheard. Through this forum of video essays our goal is to offer a consistent platform from which important stories can find a new and fresh perspective. There is a story behind every face we see on the streets of Boston, a narrative behind every closed shop door. They’re variations on the same […]

April 23, 2023 0

Life and Legacy of Legendary Japanese Composer: Ryuichi Sakamoto

by Kristen Si

“Ars longa, vita brevis.” (Latin for “Art is long, life is short.”) – Hippocrates At the age of 71, Ryuichi Sakamoto – legendary Japanese composer – passed away on March 28, 2023 after battling cancer for years. The above Hippocrates quote was posted as part of a statement on his website following his passing, showcasing his status and continuing legacy as an icon within electronic pop music and the film industry. As a composer, music producer, and activist, Ryuichi Sakamoto […]

April 23, 2023 0

Katsushika Hokusai: One of the Most Famous and Influential Artists of All Time at MFA

by Bolin Shen

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) was groundbreaking at his time. He had a major impact on the development of Japanese art. He was innovative in his use of color, composition, and subject matter, and his work influenced many subsequent artists. Hokusai’s images of landscapes, nature, and everyday life have almost become synonymous with traditional Japanese art, and his influence can be seen in everything from anime and manga to contemporary graphic design. From now until July 16, 2023, the Museum of Fine […]

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