Tong Yan Gaai (Chinatown)
Photographer Morris Lum explores how Chinese identity is expressed in Chinatowns across North America.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Written by Priya Chhaya
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is working to support the preservation of America's Chinatowns. Sign our petition today to commit to the cultural preservation of America’s Chinatowns for future generations.
Morris Lum is a Trinidadian born photographer and artist who has, over the last decade, been searching for the clusters of Chinatown communities built across Canada and the United States for the purpose of settlement and growth.
Morris Lum Portrait (2024) by Nam Phi DangNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Morris Lum Introduction
Hello my name is Morris Lum, I am a photographer, artist, and a professor based in Toronto, Canada.
Morris Lum: Eastern Bakery (2017) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Eastern Bakery
His “aim is to focus and direct attention towards the functionality of the Chinatown and to explore the generational context of how “Chinese” identity is expressed in these structural enclaves.
Morris Lum: New Lun Ting Cafe (2017) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
New Lung Ting Café
Using a large format camera Lum documented Chinatowns across Canada and the United States.
Photographing Chinatown
"Over the last decade, I've been traveling across the United States as well as Canada photographing and documenting using a four by five film camera, Chinatowns that exist in the major cities."
"My interest in photographing Chinatowns across North America is based on an interest in unpacking the history of migration of Chinese again in North America."
Morris Lum: Chinese-Methodist Church (2018) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Chinese Methodist Church
Los Angeles
2018
Morris Lum: Golden Dragon Gifts (2018) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Golden Dragon Gifts
Los Angeles
2018
My Earliest Memory of Chinatown
"My earliest memory of Chinatown was when my family moved from Trinidad and Tobago to Canada. On the weekends, my parents would take my sister and I to Toronto's Chinatown, and what I distinctly remember the vivid sounds, vivid smells, and vivid energy that Chinatown offered."
"It also reminds me of my mother's upbringing being from Hong Kong and Macau, and for me, there's always a connection there of Chinatown to my mother."
Morris Lum: Doyers Street (2019) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Doyers Street
New York
2019
Morris Lum: 55 Engine (2019) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
55 Engine
New York
2019
Morris Lum: New Golden Fung Wong Bakery Inc. (2019) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
New Golden Fung Wong Bakery, Inc.
New York
2019
Morris Lum: China-King (2019) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
China King
Boston
2019
Creative Interest & Chinatown
"My creative interest stems from, a desire to unpack my cultural heritage, being Chinese Trinidadian Canadian, and thinking about the pathways in which my grandparents moved from China to Trinidad and then to Canada..."
"... and thinking more broadly about the migration of Chinese over to North America. So in my work, I try to visually unpack that, but also to see the impacts of longstanding immigration patterns within cities like Toronto, but also many of the major cities across North America."
Morris Lum: Chang Ying Ginseng Hong Inc. (2022) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Chang Ying Ginseng Hong, Inc.
Chicago
2022
Morris Lum: Chicago Food Market (2022) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Chicago Food Mart
Chicago
2022
Morris Lum: Washington State Acupuncture And Chinese Medicine Centre (2022) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Washington State Acupuncture and Chinse Medicine Center
Seattle
2022
Morris Lum: Good Harvest (2022) by Morris LumNational Trust for Historic Preservation
Good Harvest
Philadelphia
2022
Why Preserve Chinatowns?
"I think it's important to preserve Chinatowns because of their historical significance. Chinatowns were often the first place where Chinese lived. In many cases, it was the only place that Chinese could live."
"...Chinatowns were often placed in undesirable parts of this city. From that community was built, and if we think about today, we see what has grown from that sort of initial offering of Chinatowns."
For more about Morris Lum and his work visit www.morrislum.ca.
Learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation's America's Chinatowns initiative.
About the author: Priya Chhaya is the associate director of content at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The project wouldn't have happened without the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts
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