Show Notes
In celebration of Lunar New Year and Pride month, Asian in Aotearoa returns to the stage for a special Year of the Snake panel and podcast recording. Recorded at Auckland Art Gallery, host Jenna Wee sits down with an all-Queer panel reflecting on their creative process, inspiration, growth – and what Year of the Snake might look like for them. Meet the Panel: Steven Junil Park 박준일 (he/they): Korean-born artist handcrafting functional objects and clothing under the label, 6x4. Mariadelle ‘Abbey’ Gamit (they/she): Pinay artist, DJ and co-director of Asia and Pasifika-led arts organisation, All My Friends. Nathan Joe 周润豪 (he/him): Chinese-Kiwi multi-award-winning playwright, dramaturg and performance poet. Thank you to Ellie, Fern and the team at Auckland Art Gallery for making this special episode possible. __ Asian in Aotearoa is a podcast that explores the lives of Asian creatives, one conversation at a time. We explore our relationship to creativity, courage, compassion, community and how this shapes the way we move through the world and influences our work. Founded in November 2020 by Jenna Wee, the podcast – now 50+ episodes deep – has featured artists, writers, actors, musicians, theatre-makers, directors and more.
LINKS Asian in Aotearoa Instagram Asian in Aotearoa Substack asianinaotearoa.com
More from Asian in Aotearoa
Rounding out this run of episodes, writer Xue Li Zhang and filmmaker/community builder Kiran Patel talk through the messy, generous work of showing up for each other and the everyday act of building spaces where people can feel seen.
Visual artist Sahana Rahman and artist-producer Sananda Chatterjee catch up for a conversation rooted in South Asian craft, community and storytelling. They discuss embroidery traditions passed down generations through to the doing-word that real community actually is.
Two multidisciplinary artists who do amazing things on stage, come together - actor, producer and writer Márianne Infante, and dance artist and choreographer Xin Ji. Their conversation moves between new motherhood, migration, making a lifetime of art without burning out, creativity and spirituality. About Márianne: Márianne Infante is a multidisciplinary creative of Kapampángan heritage — a trained actor, producer, writer, director and mover — born and raised in Pampanga, the Philippines, before moving to Aotearoa at 11. She's Executive Director of PAT, co-founder and director of Te & Kuya Collaborative and a board member of Equity NZ. Her mahi centres storytelling that uplifts Indigenous and immigrant voices. ➡️ Follow Márianne on Instagram: https://instagram.com/marianne_infante ➡️ Márianne on Satellites: https://satellites.co.nz/archive/people/marianne-infante About Xin: Xin Ji is a dance artist, choreographer, performer, filmmaker and educator based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Trained in Chinese Classical Ballet in Beijing before a professional career in Japan and Aotearoa, he has worked with companies including The New Zealand Dance Company, Footnote and Okareka. His debut solo work Body Story premiered at the Auckland Pride Festival in 2025. ➡️ Follow Xin on Instagram: https://instagram.com/xin_with_ji ➡️ Xin on Satellites: https://satellites.co.nz/archive/people/xin-ji Follow Asian in Aotearoa on Instagram: https://instagram.com/asianinaotearoa Visit https://asianinaotearoa.com This episode was made possible thanks to Foundation North and Creative New Zealand.
This episode brings choreographer Cindy Yunha Jang and visual artist Tarika Sabherwal together. They chat about Cindy's work building belonging through movement and Tarika's exploration of inherited South Asian mythology and more.
Weimin and J.Y discuss friendship, community and why the most meaningful creative work often begins with making space for others. About Weimin: Weimin Li is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based tattoo artist and founder of NiceGoblins, an artist platform he launched in 2018 to create community and opportunities for emerging creatives in Auckland. Born in China and raised in Aotearoa from the age of eight, Weimin studied Video Game Design before finding his way into tattooing. ➡️ Explore NiceGoblins: https://www.nicegoblins.com ➡️ Follow NiceGoblins: https://www.instagram.com/nicegoblins_collective ➡️ Follow Weimin: https://www.instagram.com/nicegoblins_wei