The Only Way to Survive, 2019

Red Envelope Project
Foil printed paper envelope
3 x 4.5”

People are beginning to say the only way to survive is by taking care of one another, by recreating our relationships to one another…

Grace Lee Boggs

The Red Envelope Project is a collaborative project created with artist Alvin Luong. Within Chinese culture, red envelopes containing money are often given as gifts during celebratory occasions among friends and families. The project invites artists to come together to create and design unique red envelopes. Proceeds raised from sales of these envelopes are then donated to local community initiatives, charities, and mutual aid funds in an effort to redirect resources and wealth.

In 2019, the project involved eleven artists (Alexandra Hong, Ness Lee, Henry Heng Lu, Morris Lum, Alvin Luong, Ed Pien, Winnie Wu, Xuan Ye, Florence Yee, Kendra Yee and Shellie Zhang) who each designed three custom red envelopes. Proceeds from the project were donated to Native Women in the Arts. The project launch took place on March 16, 2019 at Tea Base (basement of Toronto Chinatown Centre). Visit the launch’s Facebook event for more information.

In 2020, a print run of The Only Way to Survive was created, with funds raised given to the Toronto Prisoners’ Rights Project.

in 2020, a print run of The Only Way to Survive and two newly created red envelopes with quotes from Yuri Kochiyama and publications of Gidra, were made for a project with the Anchorage Museum. Prints are available for a limited time and funds raised will be given to Native Movement. Visit their website shop here and here to learn more.

In 2021, the Red Envelope Project involved fourteen artists (Alexandra Hong, Alvin Luong, Amy Lam, Annie Wong, Ed Pien, Florence Yee, Henry Heng Lu, Jessica Jang, Kendra Yee, Morris Lum, Petrina Ng, Steven Beckly, Winnie Wong, and Xuan Ye) who each designed custom red envelopes. Proceeds from the project were donated to the Encampment Support Network. The project launch took place on February 5, 2021 on Instagram. Visit the project’s Instagram profile for more information.

Installation photos courtesy of Anchorage Art Museum, from Extra Tough, 2020.