Hosted by Sam Lui, Artist-in-Residence
Wednesdays, 7:30–9:30pm
13 August | 27 August | 10 September

In English
Capacity: 10 participants
Free admission; registration required here

Join artist Sam Lui for an intimate, three-part book club hosted at her residency studio at Para Site.

Together, we will go behind the scenes and delve into the conceptual and narrative underpinnings of Sam’s ongoing project ‘Wendy’s Wok World’. Through the creation of her alter ego Wendy, a wok apprentice, Sam has built a narrative around the disciplined practice of Cantonese wok cooking as a lens to explore ideas of purity, discipline and absolutism.

But what exactly is this ‘purity’ that sparked the initial inquiry? The Bad Purity Book Club invites participants to read and reflect on selected texts that speak to Sam’s practice. At the heart of the discussion is Purity by Jonathan Franzen, a highly contested and indulgent novel that dramatises the pursuit of idealism and its moral complexities. We will analyse the story and explore the idea of purity alongside supplementary essays and theoretical writings by authors and thinkers such as Byung-Chul Han, Slavoj Žižek, and others. Each session is centred on a specific topic and conceptual thread, with a tailored reading list shared in advance.

Expect a collaborative space for critical and fun exchange—thoughtful, generous, and open to all curious minds.

We encourage full attendance across all three sessions, but limited drop-in spots for each session may be available.

Register here—spots are limited and first come, first served. Stay tuned to our social channels for updates.