Artist Talk & NY Premiere of Luka Yuanyuan Yang’s Feature Film, Chinatown Cha-Cha

High Line Art and Roxy Cinema New York present the New York premiere of artist Luka Yuanyuan Yang’s feature film, Chinatown Cha-Cha. Following the screening, Yang will sit down to speak about her work with Xiaoyu Weng, artistic director of Tanoto Art Foundation.

At the remarkable age of 92, Coby Yee, a former starlet and owner of the illustrious “Forbidden City Nightclub,” reclaimed her place in the spotlight with the senior dance troupe, Grant Avenue Follies. Led by Cynthia Yee, the ensemble brings to life the luminous nightclub era of San Francisco’s Chinatown, simultaneously shattering the conventional image of aging Asian women. Their transnational tour across the US, Cuba, and China unfurls an exploration of diasporic Chinese entertainment and a profound understanding of their own Chinese American identities. In Havana, their co-performance with local Chinese Opera singers sparked a vibrant renaissance in the city’s dwindling Chinese community. An emotive journey back to her father’s homeland in China gave Coby a chance to reflect on familial memories and observe the startling transformation of urban landscapes. The film stands as a poignant chronicle of Coby’s final journey before her passing at 93, preserving her indomitable spirit. Meanwhile, the Grant Avenue Follies dance on, carrying the torch of their shared heritage.

Tales of Chinatown, a solo exhibition of Yang’s short films from this same body of work, is currently on view on the High Line. The exhibition includes three of Yang’s short films: Cantonese Tunes on Mott Street (2022), The Lady From Shanghai (2019), and Tales of Chinatown (2019). By following her protagonists on the streets, through their communities, and into their homes, the artist amplifies the voices of those often denied the chance to share their own stories—individuals who have been forgotten, silenced, or misinterpreted. Tales of Chinatown screens daily on the High Line at 14th Street, from 5pm until the park closes. More information here. [to be linked once High Line website is live]

Luka Yuanyuan Yang is a visual artist and filmmaker working across
documentary film, photography, installation, and performance. Her practice, characterized by interwoven documentary and archival materials, addresses themes of identity, migration, and memory, challenging conventional historical narratives. During a year-long research trip across the US in 2018, Yang was captivated by the rich history of migration and adaptation in America’s Chinatowns, largely formed as a direct result of the Chinese Exclusion Act and racial discrimination. During this same period, Yang began researching the stories of Chinese women in 20th century American performing arts, inspired by the legacy of Anna May Wong and seeking to uncover the experiences of other Chinese women performers whose stories have been forgotten or misunderstood by history. Yang’s exploration of these neighborhoods, the Chinese diaspora, and performing artists has become the central focus of her short films and feature film Chinatown Cha-Cha, and her recently published artist book Dance in Herland. In a time of rising threats to America’s Chinatowns, the artist brings generations together through film, dance, and dialogue.

ABOUT HIGH LINE ART 

Founded in 2009, High Line Art commissions and produces many artworks on the High Line, including site-specific commissions, exhibitions, performances, video programs, and a series of billboard interventions. Led by Cecilia Alemani, the Donald R. Mullen, Jr. Director & Chief Curator of High Line Art, and presented by the High Line, the art program invites artists to think of creative ways to engage with the unique architecture, history, and design of the park, and to foster a productive dialogue with the surrounding neighborhood and urban landscape. For more information on High Line Art, please visit thehighline.org/art.

ABOUT THE HIGH LINE
The High Line is both a nonprofit organization and a public park on the West Side of Manhattan. Through our work with communities on and off the High Line, we’re devoted to reimagining public spaces to create connected, healthy neighborhoods and cities. Built on a historic, elevated rail line, the High Line was always intended to be more than a park. You can walk through gardens, view art, experience a performance, enjoy food and beverage, or connect with friends and neighbors—all while enjoying a unique perspective of New York City. Nearly 100% of our annual budget comes through donations. The High Line is owned by the City of New York and we operate under a license agreement with NYC Parks.
For more information about the High Line, please visit thehighline.org. @highlinenyc @highlineartnyc