Paul Wong photographed by Mike Tjioe

In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, Reel Asian is thrilled to announce award-winning interdisciplinary visual and media artist Paul Wong as the recipient of this year’s 2024 Fire Horse Award! The $25,000 cash award honours an Asian Canadian individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the film and media-arts community.

Hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia, Paul Wong is a pioneering figure, known for his innovative work in visual and media art. With a career spanning over five decades, Wong has continuously pushed the boundaries of storytelling, working outside mainstream conventions. His illustrious career is marked by numerous accolades, including the Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Art (2005) and the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Visual Arts (2016). In 2023, Wong received the Outstanding Artist Award from the Federation of Gay Games and was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Emily Carr University of Art and Design (ECUAD).

He recently completed a year-long residency titled 身在唐人街/OCCUPYING CHINATOWN. Inspired by hundreds of letters and familial artifacts of his late mother Suk Fong Wong. Wong created intimate exhibitions, public art pieces, artist talks, events, workshops, and the website www.occupyingchinatown.com.

This year’s nomination for the Fire Horse Award comes from esteemed figures in the arts community, including Lisa Steele and Kim Tomczak, the recently retired founders of Vtape, and the Rt. Hon, Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada (1999–2005).

Paul Wong will be presented with the third annual Fire Horse Award at the ceremony and fundraiser on May 23, 2024.

“The jury is honoured to present the third annual Fire Horse Award to Vancouver artist Paul Wong, a bold pioneer in Canadian visual and media art. For fifty years and counting, Paul has been the creator of ground-breaking, large-scale public art installations that challenge stereotypes and our notions of belonging,” said Fire Horse Award jury Ali Kazimi, Keith Lock and Hannah Sung. “Throughout his long career, he has modelled a commitment to building community and advocacy which has been influential on newer generations of media artists. We hope this award brings renewed attention to his entire body of work, especially to younger generations, given his career longevity and social impact. As a visual and media artist, storyteller, community-builder, advocate and curator, Paul fiercely embodies the qualities of the Fire Horse Award, as he dedicates his talent and energy to breaking down barriers, uplifting Asian Canadian communities and sparking cultural change.”