Dough Nation

Opening Event Friday May 13, 5pm at AKA
Join us in celebrating the opening of this project with brief remarks from Xiao Han followed by food provided from Jin Jin.

Dough Nation is a community-based art project by Xiao Han, collaborating with the Riversdale Community Fridge Project. From May through June, Dough Nation takes the form of a billboard on AKA and PAVED Arts shared billboard space and an artist lead partnership between Jin Jin Cuisine and the Riversdale Community Fridge. As a gesture of community care and connection Han is organizing a series of food sharing days throughout the duration of the project, where Jin Jin will provide weekly drop offs of food to the community fridge. Through this, Han aims to connect the diverse cultural cuisines within the Riversdale district through a common ingredient, Dough - an essential component for many iconic dishes across various cultures, such as pancakes, stir-fry noodles, perogies, chow-mein, and doughnuts.

Dough Nation aspires to create an intercultural dialogue of mutual understanding and compassion through the act of food sharing. With the intent that this interactive project can raise awareness and spark discussions on several societal issues surrounding core neighborhoods in Saskatoon, specifically community care and food security. This project is also an opportunity for the community to demonstrate their appreciation and final sendoff for Jing Jin Cuisine, which has provided the Riversdale community with wholesome and authentic Northern Chinese food for the past decade.

Whether contributing or receiving in this project, all participants are encouraged to leave their messages on the notebook inside the fridge, forming dialogues between the community and the chefs who prepared these dough-based delicacies.

Dough Nation builds upon Life of a Craphead’s Until Either One Closes, a new site-specific work created for their exhibition Entertaining Every Second. Until … forged a relationship between AKA and Jin Jin, an agreement that we would work together for all of AKA’s project openings, until either one closed (or moved).

A limited edition tote bag by Xiao Han is available for purchase, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Riversdale Community Fridge Project.

Xiao Han

Xiao Han is a Wuhan-Saskatoon-Toronto-based artist, curator and art-writer. With photography, Han's artwork focuses on politics, gender issues and explores crossing cultures between Canada and China based on her experience.

As an independent curator, Han has curated numerous exhibitions with artists and art institutions between Canada and China. Han is a recipient of grants such as the Catalyst Grant University of Saskatchewan and SK Arts. 2017 Summer, Han's public photography "Yee Clun" is installed in Regina Arts Park permanently. This project reflects the lost story in Regina, 1924, a Chinese immigrant and restaurant owner Yee Clun challenged the racist "Saskatchewan's White Women's Labour Law" in Regina. 2019 Fall, Han（via. Kyuubi Culture）curated their latest public art project with the Chinese guest artist Li Wan at Nuit Blanche, Saskatoon. 2020 Fall, Han (via. Kyuubi Culture) hosts an online-artist-book-club during the pandemic. 2021, Han's upcoming exhibition "Artist and Asian-Restaurant" is a collaborative project in the community with the Riversdale BID; partners include Asian restaurants on 20th street, AKA Artist-Run Center and the other art communities in Saskatoon.

To further explore Han’s work, check out her website.