By Amy Weng

Epigraph Interview with Ting J. Yiu

Ting. J. Yiu is a Stockholm based writer with an MA in Transnational Creative Writing. She writes poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Her short story Gutting is the final Epigraph Project piece for 2020. In this interview with the editor, she talks about her fascination with true crime and diaspora narratives, and why she writes about ugly and unorthodox women…

Epigraph Interview with Yoshiko Teraoka

Yoshiko Teraoka is a London-based writer. Her research project on anarchist bookshops and libraries has previously appeared in the online visual platform UNDERSCAN. Her essay A Boxing Match with Jerry, or Death in Three Parts is available to read now as part of Epigraph Project, supporting new and emerging Asian New Zealand writers…

Epigraph Interview with Febriani Idrus

Feby Idrus is a writer, musician and arts administrator from Dunedin. In 2018 was one of four playwrights selected to take part in the Fortune Theatre’s Emerging Playwrights mentoring programme. She also writes programme notes for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra – rather a different proposition to writing short stories…

Grace Yee

Epigraph Interview with Grace Yee

Grace Yee writes poetry, essays and short fiction. Grace’s PhD research at the University of Melbourne focused on settler Chinese women’s storytelling in Aotearoa New Zealand. In this interview, she talks about her recent research and her magpie approach to writing poetry…

Epigraph Interview with kī anthony

kī anthony is an autistic lesbian of Indian and Chinese descent. They are the fourth writer whose work has been selected for Epigraph Project. In this interview, they talk about representation for sex workers, their early experiences with tech and open source, and how the internet is both our oppressor and the means for radical change…

Epigraph Interview with Nicole Tan

Nicole Tan’s speculative fiction, Fission, features as the third Epigraph Project of 2020. In this latest interview, Tan talks to editor Amy Weng about what drew them to this genre of fiction, what being a diaspora writer means, and their longstanding interest in fanfiction…

Portrait of Nithya Narayanan

Epigraph Interview with Nithya Narayanan

In this first interview for Epigraph, a project introducing readers to new and emerging Asian New Zealand writers, Hainamana editor Amy Weng speaks to Nithya Narayanan about Inheritance, the grotesque body, and the role that fiction can play in conceptualising precarity and trauma…

Haegue Yang, The Intermediate – Hairy Tele Digi-Big-Bang Fanned Out, 2018, (detail). Courtesy of the artist. Photo Carl Warner

9 things to see and do this week

AMY WENG | The year of the pig has barely begun with lunar festivities still winding down, yet there’s no sign of rest and relaxation ahead. Here’s our top nine things to do this week to keep the celebrations goings…

Asian Aotearoa Arts Hui organisers Amy Weng, Kerry Ann Lee and Kim Lowe. Photo by Kirsten Ng

A roundtable discussion with Kerry Ann Lee, Kim Lowe & Amy Weng – AAAH2018

AMY WENG | The beginning of September marks the opening of the Asian Aotearoa Arts Hui 2018, and a three-week long celebration of diverse Asian New Zealand creative arts. Ahead of the event, past and present hui organisers Kim Lowe, Amy Weng and Kerry Ann Lee caught up to talk about how the hui has developed, what issues remain unsolved, and what hope this year’s event will bring…

Renee Liang, producer of 等凳 - The Chairs, at Te Pou Theatre. Photo by Bob Scott Photography

In Conversation with Renee Liang and Hweiling Ow

AMY WENG | What can a farcical relationship between a man and a woman teach us about language, loss and living? This winter, Eugène Ionesco’s Les Chaises (The Chairs), has been adapted by four Aotearoa theatremakers into Pākeha English, Te Reo Māori, Samoan and Cantonese. Editor Amy Weng caught up with the Cantonese season producer Renee Liang, and director Hweiling Ow, to reflect on the importance of language on and off the stage…

Eat My Rice by Louie Bretaña at Performance Art Week Aotearoa 2017. Image courtesy of PAWA. Photo by Essi Airisniemi

In Conversation with Louie Bretaña

AMY WENG | Louie Bretaña is a graduate of Elam School of Fine Arts and the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines. His work actively challenges Euro-western colonial histories through relational practices, encouraging a respectful engagement with culture via conversation and food…

A review of Roots [根] presented by Proudly Asian Theatre

AMY WENG | As part of the Auckland Fringe Festival, Proudly Asian Theatre presents the New Zealand premier of Roots [根], in association with Auckland Lantern Festival. Amy Weng caught the show at Uxbridge in Howick. Roots [根] will also play at Q Theatre from 1 – 3 March 2018…