Laiwan is an artist and writer recognized for her interdisciplinary practice based in poetics and philosophy. Born in Zimbabwe of Chinese parents, she immigrated to Canada in 1977 to leave the war in Rhodesia.  Laiwan teaches in the MFA Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Goddard College in Washington State, USA, and lives in Vancouver, Canada.   Laiwan, an Asian Canadian writer and long-time contributor to the arts community recently published in Ricepaper Magazine’s first ever special double issue, with 96 pages with features, reviews, poetry, and prose from writers across Canada.

On February 27, Laiwan and a host of other Aboriginal and Asian writers who published in the magazine performed poetry readings at Rhizome’s Cafe.   The Aboriginal Writers Collective West Coast presented this night of multicultural poetry and music as a special fundraiser featuring Larissa Lai, Jonina Kirton, Janey Lew, Wanda John, Joanne Arnott, Janet Rogers, Kelly Roulette, Larry Nicholson,Laiwan, Arlene Bowman, Alex Jacobs, annie ross, Michelle Sylliboy, and Trevor Carolan, with special thanks to Fred Wah, Parliamentary Poet Laureate.  Guest Editors Joanne Arnott (Aboriginal Writers Collective West Coast) and  Jim Wong-Chu were also on hand to celebrate.