Aries Cheung

Toronto based filmmaker, artist, designer and performer, Aries Cheung studied graphic design in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and graduated in visual art and film at York University (BFA). He is trained in visual art, design, theatre, film, dance, singing and acting.

He appeared in films by Richard Fung, Keith Lock, Ann Marie Fleming, and in the play, My Grandmother And I. He has performed contemporary, classical dance and Chinese opera and has written, directed and produced videos for community organizations, dance and theatre companies, such as Little Pear Garden Collective, Wu Ming Dance Project, Asian Community AIDS Services.

He has collaborated with arts collective Eventual Ashes on several multi-media contemporary theatre productions with his videos, design, installations and stage performances. Aries has actively been involved in identity politics and his work has always been about racial identity, sexuality and gender.

For many years, Aries has collaborated and facilitated the development of community arts as an artist, film-maker, curator, programmer, jury, trainer, mentor, board member and event planner with organizations such as Asian Heritage Month Festival, Chinese Canadian National Council and Asian Community AIDS Services. He has been a member of Zen-Mix 2000 PanAsian Visual Arts Collective, Pride Art Collective and Equity Art Collective. He has hosted radio spoken word program, Asian Accent, at community radio CIUT.

He has taught at Centennial College Centre of Creative Communication. Aries has been a grant jury for the Toronto Arts Council and has received project grants from the Ontario Arts Council.

He plays the lead role in Rice Roll Productions' drag musical, House of Freaks and supporting role in their short film, Empty Nest . He co-founded film company Red Canvas Productions: and media production company, TransMedia9 Inc., providing services on graphic design, web design and video productions: