Although most of us may claim to be familiar with Asian culture for knowing the best Chow Mein joints on St-Laurent, few of us have gotten a real taste of the incredible depth of this vague coinage. The growing population of the East and its expanding contribution to Montreal culture has long been acknowledged but not celebrated as it should be.
It was around this time five years ago that the cultural fusion between the East and the West was recognized as a valuable attribute to our city, and the month of May was officially chosen as Asian Heritage Month. In an attempt to avoid limiting our knowledge to noodles and sushi, Accès Asie Festival was created and it is now its sixteenth anniversary. Starting on the 6th, the theme for this year’s festivities is Muses Amuse and the menu is designed to appeal to every palate and mind.
The degustation of this enriching blend could not get a more accurate launch: the Maison de la Culture du Plateau Mont Royal will be featuring the juxtaposed works of Quebec artist Michael Beaucauge and that of Chinese artist Nie Jiang Bing in an exhibition called Rencontres: zìshì, accompanied by the music of Chih-Lin Chou.
If you’re in the mood of getting rid off an OCD resulting from a painful winter, there are a few distracting options. Why not dance it all off with some Indian Classical Odissi or receiving some relaxing energy through the sacred art of meditation? When it’s all said and done, you’ll either have learned some crazy dance moves few have seen or expanded your cultural repertoire (both incredibly attractive assets).
Alternately, if what you’re seeking is a cinematic experience that goes beyond the ordinary, this is the perfect occasion to stumble upon some choice alternative films. On Sunday the 8th, the NFB CinéRobothèque will present the work of four emerging Iranian artists residing in Montreal; each screening followed by a Q&A session in which the audience will get an inside look at these filmmakers’ creative process. Hopefully, after these encounters you will be less likely to reduce your understanding of the “Asian experience” to handling chopsticks at an all-you-can-eat buffet.