Photo: Daisy Wu, 丢弃的记忆, 2025. Mixed media, screen print.
The Riding Mountain Artists’ Residency gives Manitoban artists time to focus on their work in the beautiful natural setting of Riding Mountain National Park.
The next artist-in-residence for the 2026 season is Daisy Wu. Ahead of her time in the historic Deep Bay Cabin, Daisy answered a few of our questions about her work and how she’ll be spending her residency.
MAC: Tell us a little about yourself as an artist and your practice.
Daisy: I am a photo-based artist currently living in Winnipeg. I work in analogue photography and alternative processes using plant-based developers. My work mainly focuses on narratives that connect my family’s history with my journey as an immigrant to Canada. I have been working with found materials to build sculptures and recontextualize photographs.
Recently, I have been working on a series of found images and objects from people I have met or known for years. I am researching the history of Chinese immigration and gathering stories from other Chinese immigrants. I am also exploring different ways of storytelling and creating works that examine collective belonging.
Tell us about your project — what will you be working on in the Deep Bay Cabin?
During the residency, I will continue working on the project I began last year. The project includes a variety of works, including screen prints, sculptures, and photographs that address the stories of Chinese immigrants, including my family’s immigration history. I will further experiment with found materials and photographs I have gathered from friends and other members of the Chinese community. I will also explore ways of translating my research and personal reflections into material forms.
What is your relationship with the park?
Last summer, I visited Riding Mountain, where I had a good time. This is such a beautiful place. When I was there, I could explore the nature and take great photos. This special trip has really inspired me to come to the Riding Mountain again. The residency would be great for me to explore deeper into the Riding Mountain and discover more about this place and see more people and landscape while I am there.
How do you hope the park will influence or inspire your project or practice?
My last visit to the park inspired me to think about immigration and tourism in a deeper level. Last time I went to the park, I noticed a group of tourists from China. Hearing the conversation of tourists from China has produced a strong sense of recognition and connection. I want to experience that connection again and experiment with how the presence of Chinese tourists and immigrants might inform my art making process.
Anything else you’d like to share with readers and the Riding Mountain National Park community?
At the end of the residency, I would have more details about my long-term project and finish my ongoing work at the end of the residency. I believe that this experience and place will influence me in many ways, from people I may meet in the community of Riding Mountain, to the stories about their connection with the park, and to share some of my process and artistic practice in my public presentation.
The Riding Mountain Artists’ Residency is offered in partnership by the Manitoba Arts Council, Wasagaming Community Arts, and Riding Mountain National Park.
Interested in the staying in the Deep Bay cabin? Find out how to apply to the Riding Mountain Artists Residency through the Learn – Residencies grant stream. Apply by January 15, 2027 for a residency in the summer of 2027.
