Looking Within the Shadows: Repeal and Beyond is a mural created during EEPMON’s tenure as the inaugural Creator-in-Residence at Library and Archives Canada. The work is informed by extensive archival research and dialogue with the Chinese Canadian community, drawing upon historical records of Chinese immigration to Canada between 1886 and 1949. These records document a period defined by the Chinese Head Tax, the mandatory registration of C.I. certificates, the separation of families, and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923, which was repealed following World War II.
Through vivid, layered imagery inspired by archival documents and oral histories, the mural evokes themes of resilience, resolve, and hope. It features Douglas Jung, Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament, whose advocacy was instrumental in the advancement of equal rights. The piece invites viewers to reflect on lives that persevered amidst systemic control and fear, honouring an ongoing journey toward equity and belonging.
