An Auspicious Beast, a solo exhibition by Makoto Chi
Join us at SUM gallery on Thursday, October 16, 5 - 9 pm, for the opening reception of An Auspicious Beast, a solo exhibition by Makoto Chi, at the SUM Gallery - #425-268 Keefer St (4th floor in the Sun Wah Building), Vancouver, BC V6A 1X6.
Using materials as disparate as Sumi ink, blood, and spit, Makoto Chi creates images of yokai and golems as an exploration of queerness, myth, and cultural heritage. Twelve new paintings, presented kakejiku-style throughout the SUM gallery, complement a mural painted directly onto the gallery walls. An Auspicious Beast is the culmination of Makoto Chi's monthlong artist residency at SUM. The exhibition run will also include a "Make Your Own Yokai" linocut print workshop + artist talk on October 25, presented in partnership with Powell Street Festival Society. An Auspicious Beast runs Tues - Sat, noon - 6 pm, Oct. 16 - Dec. 6, 2025.
Please note: to accommodate members of our community, from 5 – 6 pm, the Opening Reception will be mask-mandatory; from 6 pm to closing, the reception will be mask-recommended. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided at the reception desk.
For more information, please visit: https://sumgallery.ca/an-auspicious-beast-makoto-chi/
OPENING RECEPTION REGISTRATION
Please note that this event is 18+ due to mature subject matter.
An Auspicious Beast: Artist Talk with Makoto Chi
Saturday, October 25, 2025 · 5pm | Free | Ages 18+
Join us at SUM gallery on Saturday, October 25 at 5pm for an artist talk with Makoto Chi, whose exhibition, An Auspicious Beast, delves into the mythic realms of yokai and golems as reflections of queerness, heritage, and transformation. Drawing from Japanese and Ashkenazi Jewish cultural lineages, Chi’s work explores how monstrous and hybrid figures can embody the tensions between belonging and otherness—offering powerful metaphors for queer identity, desire, and self-invention. Through this conversation, Chi will discuss his materials, methods, and the cultural narratives that animate his practice.
The event is free, but registration is recommended as space is limited.
Presented in partnership with Powell Street Festival Society.