Film Screening: China’s van Goghs & 14 Paintings

Date: Saturday, November 30th

Doors Open: 6:30 PM | Screening Starts: 7:00 PM

Location: JAYU, 401 Richmond St W #380, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8

About this event: 3 hours

As winter settles in, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a thought-provoking movie night! On November 30th, Urbannoodling is proud to partner with the JAYU 2024 Festival of the Arts to present the second screening event in our curated series, "On the Move."

This edition features two powerful documentaries: China’s van Goghs (2016) by Haibo Yu and Kiki Tianqi Yu, and 14 Paintings (2023) by Dongnan Chen. Through the lens of Dafen Village, Shenzhen, this screening reveals how one small town transformed into a global art powerhouse, shaping the lives, identities, and aspirations of the migrant workers who sustain it. Together, these films highlight the complex realities of art production in Dafen, urging viewers to rethink what we consider "authenticity" and "value" in art—and the societal and individual costs behind the commercialization of creativity.

An engaging online panel discussion will follow with 14 Paintings director Dongnan Chen and a special guest, where we’ll delve deeper into these themes. Afterward, join us at Waterworks Food Hall for drinks, conversation, and connection. Everyone is welcome to join the dialogue and reflect on the evening’s themes!

🎬 China’s van Goghs

Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime, but Zhao Xiaoyong has sold over 90,000 copies of van Gogh’s paintings in the past 20 years. Living in China, the world’s fastest developing country, Zhao has been through great transitions. First from a peasant to a rural migrant worker. Then he learnt how to copy iconic Western paintings. Now Zhao is in the midst of a new transition – from copymaker to original artist. China’s van Gogh not only presents how this painter pursues his dream but also tells the human story of challenge and struggle during his journey.

Following its World Premiere at IDFA, China’s van Goghs has been widely screened and celebrated, earning numerous awards. These include the Best Director Award at the Skip City International D-Cinema Festival in Japan (2017) and the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Academy Awards in China (2018).

🎬 14 Paintings

A field study of fourteen paintings from China’s Dafen village, as the government rebrands the copy-painting district as a hub for original art.

Dafen Village, once the world’s largest hub for the reproduction of Western masterpieces, has been rebranded by the government as a creative landmark for the burgeoning domestic market. Who are the consumers of the original paintings now? Where will they be displayed? Can the painters find themselves a place in the art hierarchy? Is “original art” a lofty ambition, or a way to survive? Scattered across China, Dafen’s paintings form an expressive mosaic of a society in transformation.