Project timeline
Follow Eric’s progress through his residency.
On this page
- Preservation Centre visit—March 6, 2025
- Up close and personal: discovering archived C.I. documents—April 4, 2025
- Meet Eric Chan online event—June 5, 2025
- Doors Open Ottawa—June 7–8, 2025
- Exploring the collections
- Pop-up installation—August 27 to September 3, 2025
- Creator in residence final showcase—October 14, 2025
Preservation Centre visit—March 6, 2025
Eric toured the Preservation Centre with stops at the audiovisual, digitization, electronic records and preservation labs. He met with conservators of books, moving images and photographic and audio materials, as well as an imaging specialist, and learned about the important work LAC does to preserve Canada’s documentary heritage.
Up close and personal: discovering archived Chinese immigration documents—April 4, 2025
Eric had the opportunity to consult original documents related to the Chinese Immigration Act, also known as the Chinese Exclusion Act. Looking through one of the registers, Eric was struck by the realization that, had he lived during that era, his name and personal information could have been inscribed on its pages.
Meet Eric Chan online event—June 5, 2025
During his online presentation, Eric discussed his artistic inspiration and the intersection of data and art, sharing insights from his residency experience so far. He highlighted how the LAC collections inspire and fuel his creative process. Additionally, he presented an early prototype, demonstrating how data from the LAC collections is shaping his new body of work.
Doors Open Ottawa—June 7–8, 2025
Eric was on site at 395 Wellington Street for this two-day event, where he showcased his process working with data from national collections, writing new code and transforming it into digital art. Visitors at his table had the chance to hear his explanations and see a demonstration of an early prototype using a small data sample.
Exploring the collections
During the initial phase of his residency, Eric explored the archives and became captivated by a significant chapter of history: the Chinese Exclusion Act. His continued exploration of the collections has unveiled a series of surprising and inspiring discoveries. Many of these are featured on his Creator in Residence 2025 public research list, which Eric will expand with new findings as his residency unfolds.
Pop-up installation—August 27 to September 3, 2025
An opening reception on August 27 marked the launch of Eric art exhibition at 395 Wellington Street. The pop-up installation showcased both digital and analog pieces tracing Eric’s creative journey—from childhood influences and artistic roots to contemporary collaborations and his current residency work-in-progress.
Guests at the reception had the unique opportunity to engage in conversations with the artist, experience his works up close, explore samples of his residency research, and even mint their very own EEPMonkey using blockchain technology.
The pop-up remained on display until September 3, 2025.
Creator in residence final showcase—October 14, 2025
Leslie Weir, Librarian and Archivist of Canada, hosted a special hybrid event marking the conclusion of Eric’s creative journey as LAC’s first creator in residence. During an engaging conversation with Mrs. Weir, Eric shared insights from his residency experience and took questions from guests on site and online.
The highlight of the evening was Eric’s presentation of his final project showcase:
- Echoes of Silence & Surveillance - This generative motion graphics piece draws from the Register of Chinese Immigrants to Canada (1886-1949)
- Looking Within the Shadows: Repeal & Beyond - a digital illustration informed by archival research and conversations with the Chinese Canadian community, drawing on records of Chinese immigration to Canada (1886–1949)
- Constellations - The Flow of Belonging - based on LAC census data, this generative animation debuted at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan (and link to Expo page)
If you’re in the NCR, you can see these works on display in the lobby of 395 Wellington!
