Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco

Gallery

Cultural & Educational Center

Retail Space

667 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108
Chinatown

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Carry-On by Justin Wong | February 14 - June 29, 2026

London-based comics artist and scholar Justin Wong bridges political satire, visual storytelling, and cultural research in his first U.S. exhibition, "Carry-On" by Justin Wong. The exhibition brings a message of hope and humor during a tumultuous year of change, with street-level intervention and new artworks. Join us to open the exhibition on February 14th and 15th during the 2026 Art Zone at Chinatown Flower Market Fair. Additional artist events will be announced.

Wong began his career in 2007 as a political cartoonist and illustrator, gaining wide recognition for his long-running daily column Gei Gei Gaak Gaak in the Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao. In 2021, after being reported following the implementation of the National Security Law on July 1, 2020, Wong left Hong Kong abruptly and relocated to London. Alongside his editorial work, Wong has published a number of comics series in Hong Kong, Taiwan and France, including Lonely Planet, Hello World, New Hong Kong, Big Time, Je préfèrerais ne pas, and This City / That City, a series that ultimately became a farewell to the city he once called home.

Wong will show a new body of work created over the past three years since leaving Hong Kong. The works reflect both personal and political vantage points, shaped by displacement and distance. The presentation, including ten new digital illustrations, six outdoor works, and three new handmade books, offers an intimate look at how the artist has been processing exile, memory, and everyday resistance through humor and quiet observation.

“Carry-On” is a lighthearted introduction to a visiting artist, a soft landing, and a reminder to carry on. It reflects the emotional jet lag of freedom that many diasporic artists continue to navigate

Wong is a Spring 2026 Visiting Professor in the Folklore Program at UC Berkeley, where he is offering a graduate course entitled “Laughter as Resistance: Humour, Art, and the Everyday Politics of Hong Kong.” Carry-On by Justin Wong is on view free to the public at Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco at 667 Grant Ave., February 14-September 30, 2026 every Thursday - Monday, 11am - 6pm. This will be the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco’s inaugural exhibition in its new gallery at 667 Grant Ave.

Artist's Statement by Justin Wong

Over the past few years, many people from Hong Kong have undergone unprecedented change. Political shifts have dispersed us across different parts of the world, uprooting us from lives once defined by stability and familiarity. We move from the known into the unknown, where everything must be rebuilt from the beginning in unfamiliar environments.

Just as life appears to gradually settle again, a deeper unease begins to surface. Some wounds remain unhealed; some fears have yet to be crossed. Beneath the appearance of moving forward, inner struggles persist quietly.

Carry-On attempts to capture these internal tensions. Through abstract imagery, the exhibition seeks to trace the hidden voices within us—those shaped by displacement, memory, and uncertainty—and to offer a footnote to personal histories that continue to unfold.

About CCC
Established in 1965, CCC (the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco) stands as a non-profit arts organization with a rich legacy spanning over 50 years. Throughout its history, CCC has played a pivotal role in elevating Chinatown through the arts, as both a vibrant neighborhood and a poignant metaphor for the immigrant experience. In recent years, CCC has undergone transformative growth, presenting thought-provoking international exhibitions and engaging educational programs. The organization’s commitment to spotlighting pressing and nuanced issues of our time sparks essential dialogues, uniting
diverse perspectives and inspiring meaningful actions toward a more inclusive and equitable society. Some of its iconic programming includes “Chinatown History and Art Walking Tour,” “XianRui: Artist in Excellence Series,” “41 Ross: Artist-in-Residence,” and the new “Hungry Ghost Festival.”

Image:

Courtesy of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco. Photographer: Robert Borsdorf

Courtesy of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco. Photographer: Aaron Stark

Courtesy of the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco.

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