The Ireland Chinese Social Evening and Barbeque took place last Friday at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) on Portland Row.
Supported by the Shining Emerald publishing group and attended by locals, gardai and members of DIT, the event was one of the activities organised by artist Jay Koh to facilitate a three-year ‘engagement’ project.
Koh is based in Dublin on an international residency and is running the Ni Hao–Dia Duit project in collaboration with City Arts and with support from Dublin Inner City Partnership and the Irish Youth Foundation.
Koh told Metro Eireann: “My job here is to do a cross-community and cross-cultural project. I’m trying to identify members of the community who can be proactive to take ownership and to connect with the Irish.
“If anyone is interested in working with us, either Irish artists who’d like to get involved with the Chinese community or Chinese who’d like to get involved with the Irish community then please contact me here at DIT.”
He explained that he wants the project to help people engage in issues, even those which are emotionally loaded.
“Art can make things softer and easier to access,” according to Koh. “The Chinese community have shown a lot of initiative and creativity in organising today’s event. They are very organised.”
For further information on the project, send and e-mail to jaykoh@gmx.net
