Born in Shanghai, Joan Chen has been involved in numerous television shows and films as an actor and filmmaker in both China and the United States since the 1980s. From her breadth of experience, we can gain insights into how Asian actors and women are portrayed and shaped in and outside of Hollywood, as well as the shift of her career experience.

This conversation is inspired by Chen’s role in The Last Emperor (1987), whose costumes are featured in the Special Exhibition Madame Song: Pioneering Art and Fashion in China. The co-production involved teams from multiple countries, integrating different cultural perspectives and presenting a macro-narrative of the modern history of China.

Chen will be in conversation with renowned film critic Maggie Lee, sharing her insights on the success of The Last Emperor and her diverse roles in the film industry, from her first acting roles to producing and directing. Chen is uniquely poised to share how the cultural landscape influences the way Asian actors and directors convey a narrative. Are one’s self-perception and cultural identity affected? What does it mean to be an East Asian actor today?

The talk will be held in English and livestreamed via this page, Facebook, YouTube and the M+ Bilibili account. Simultaneous interpretation in Cantonese and Mandarin will be available onsite. Click on ‘Register’ to sign up.

Supported by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong, this event is part of the ‘M+ Lars Nittve Keynote Lecture Series’, which invites renowned artists and scholars to share insights on broader cultural ideas and topics.