Ron Zhao is an illustrator currently based in Toronto, Ontario. Born in China and raised in Singapore, their experience with immigration has given them an unique perspective on belonging and heritage. Their practice is focused on our relationship with the world we live in. Throughout their works, they seek to explore ways in which our surroundings shape us and how we too mould it into different forms. They believe that minute details in our surroundings are a reflection of our thoughts and larger culture.
Nourishment
Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 36 in, 2026
The inspiration for this piece came from my own sentiments about Chinese restaurants in Toronto. As a Chinese international student who has lived in countries not of my own for the past 12 years, I find a special sense of belonging and nostalgia when I step into a restaurant that has the same, almost tacky decor and atmosphere as those I grew up with. It is as if by being in these restaurants, I’m brought back to my childhood.
I also find that these restaurants are a mortar for community - one that not only serves immigrants of the same origin, but also for locals and other immigrants alike. They are places where meals are shared and stories are told.
With this piece, I want to show my appreciation for these restaurants built by first generation immigrants. It is thanks to the immigrants of the past that we are able to enjoy a piece of home far from home, and gives us strength to bring the same spirit of community and empathy with us into the future.
This piece is meant to be lit from the back - a pair of shadow hands, representing those who have built these restaurants, holds the hot pot in the middle. With this, I want to show appreciation for the work that the previous generation of immigrants have done for us.
