Chinese and any other Asian Sunday Salon at Spiritland

Chinese And Any Other Asian: Sunday Salons

The first in the series starts with a big topic - ‘Chinese-ness & the violence of homogenisation’, featuring authors Jenny Lau and Daisy Hung, and academic Xiao Ma. The topic will explore what it means to be ‘Chinese’ in the UK, the commodification of Chinese New Year, political conflation of the individual and state, and how to address the ingrained racism that lead to race-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This series is inspired by host Anna Sulan Masing’s book Chinese And Any Other Asian, which explores the identity and experience of East and South East Asians in Britain. Each salon will take a deep dive into exploring some of the questions that arises at intersections of identity through the lens of East and South East Asian peoples - from exploring food and appropriation, the role of ESEA identity in film and theatre, and unpicking gender.

These events are salons in the truest form, to build a space for community building and for rigorous exchange! Each salon will start with a panel discussion, open up to a formal Q&A, followed by a shared meal and/or drinks around the table together.

Daisy J. Hung is a diversity practitioner, writer, and artist, advocating for social justice across personal and professional spheres. Her debut book I Am Not A Tourist is out at on the 13th March and explores the Chinese experience in the UK.

Xiao Ma is an early-career researcher working at the interdisciplinary intersection of heritage, migration, and urban studies. Xiao's PhD project examined the cultural complexities of London’s Chinatown from a heritage perspective.

Jenny Lau is a writer, community organiser and Chinese food cheerleader. Her debut book An A-Z of Chinese Food (recipes not included) was published in January this year, and is an interrogation and deconstruction of the complex ideas of Chinese identity, history and culture, through the lens of food.

Dr Anna Sulan Masing is an academic, poet and journalist. Her debut book Chinese And Any Other Asian explores the ESEA identity in the UK. Her podcast Taste of Place looks at the history of pepper, and To Be Delicious is a recently released podcast about msg and umami in the UK.

Host or Publisher Spiritland