The Museum of Vancouver is tapping into a new kind of exhibit. Opening May 28th, Becoming: The Art of Gu Xiong isn’t just any art show, it’s more like walking through someone’s life story. The exhibit mixes sculpture, photography, video, and large-scale installations. And the best part, it’s not in some boring, glum, just the facts kind of way, it’s all about personal connection.  

If you’re not caught up to speed with Gu Xiong and his work, his life is a journey of all kinds of twists and turns. Born in China, he lived through the Cultural Revolution, worked labor-intensive jobs, and later immigrated to Canada. However, that was not the finish line. Coming to Canada alone would not propel Gu into instantly being a big a name artist.  

He would work long hours as a dishwasher, janitor, or even a pizza chef, all while continuing to create art in his basement. The kind of grind anyone would go through while trying to find their place in a city as large and competitive as Vancouver. Now, he is referred to as an “internationally recognized multidisciplinary artist”. Showing that hard work and a never give up attitude pays off.  

What makes this exhibit special is how it connects the story of Gu Xiong to something bigger. Vancouver is one of the most multicultural cities in Canada and is commonly referred to as a cultural melting pot. Whether you’re first-generation, an international student, or just trying to find your place, there’s something in this story that might connect with you and hit you right in the feels. It’s not about the artist, it’s about one shared experience of struggling, learning to adapt, and evolving from it.  

One of the most interesting parts about the exhibit, is even though some of the piece’s spans as long as decades, it still manages to feel current. Themes such as identity and culture shock are still prevalent discussions today. Especially for younger audiences who are constantly cycling through different versions of themselves both online and in real life in an attempt to discover their true selves.  

At the end of the day, this isn’t just an exhibit you go to because you feel like you should. It’s one you might actually connect with. And there’s no better place to host it than the city of Vancouver, that kind of story hits a little closer to home.  

Becoming: The Art of Gu Xiong opens May 28th at the Museum of Vancouver and will run into early 2027