Butterfly Wu (1908-1989) was China’s first “movie queen” and the first Chinese actress to achieve international recognition.
In an era when Chinese society still held prejudices against the performing arts, Wu devoted herself to the film industry with sheer passion for movies and acting, and soon became the most popular star actress in Shanghai. In 1931, Wu starred in China’s first sound film Sing-Song Girl Red Peony; In 1933, Wu was voted “Movie Queen”, a title that had since been with her all her life; In 1960, Wu won the Best Actress Award at the 7th Film Festival in Asia held in Tokyo, Japan; In 1985, Wu was accorded Special Award by the Taipei Golden Horse Awards committee, in recognition of the evergreen actress’ outstanding contributions in her career spanning over 40 years.
Since the 1930s, Butterfly Wu had been active in cultural exchanges with global film personalities, such as Anna May Wong, Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Josef von Sternberg. In 1935, Wu was invited with a delegation to visit the Soviet Union and participate in the Moscow International Film Festival, and met with Soviet directors Sergei Eisenstein, Aleksandr Dovzhenko, and actress Lyubov Orlova. Accompanied by the Peking opera master Mei Lanfang, Wu toured European countries and surveyed local film industries during this trip. It was the first international presence made since China had its own movies.
Wu settled in Vancouver, Canada in 1975 and lived a peaceful life under the name “Po Kuen Poon”. Her legendary life spanned eras of drastic changes while she led the first steps for Chinese film to enter the global scene. Butterfly Wu is not only an outstanding Chinese actress, but also commemorated as an important figure in Chinese Canadian culture and world film history.
On the occasion of Butterfly Wu’s 115th birthday, this exhibition presents more than 100 pieces of photos and items from Butterfly Wu’s personal collection, inviting you to explore the legacy of the Queen of the Silver Screen.
Curator: Guo Yubing | Academic Advisor: Zheng Shengtian | Special Advisor: Lily H.C. Liu | Producer: Ning Jing
Special thanks to Society for Chinese Canadian Literature Studies and Vancouver Art Gallery
Address:
Sunzen Art Gallery, 420 Howe St., Vancouver
Hours:
TUE - FRI: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SAT: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
SUN - MON: CLOSED
Free Admission
蝶影寻踪：电影皇后胡蝶
胡蝶（1908-1989）是中国第一位“电影皇后”，也是首位享有国际知名度的中国女演员。
在中国社会对演艺事业仍持有偏见的年代，胡蝶凭借对电影与表演的一腔热爱投入影坛，成为炙手可热的上海滩女明星。1931年，胡蝶主演中国第一部有声电影《歌女红牡丹》；1933年，数次获评为“电影皇后”，影后的美称伴随胡蝶一生；1960年，第七届亚洲电影节在日本东京举行，胡蝶凭《后门》一片获得最佳女演员奖；1985年，台湾金马奖组委会授胡蝶以特别奖，以表彰这位常青影后40年演艺生涯中的杰出贡献。
1930年代起，胡蝶积极参与了与国际影艺人士的交流，例如影星黄柳霜、卓别林、玛丽·壁克馥、范朋克，导演冯·史丹堡等；1935年，胡蝶及代表团受邀前往莫斯科参与国际电影展览会，会见了著名的苏联电影导演爱森斯坦、杜甫仁科、演员奥尔洛娃等人，并与京剧大师梅兰芳一起访问西欧各国交流学习，中国自有自己的电影以来首次走出国门。
胡蝶于1975年移居加拿大温哥华，以“潘宝娟”之名在温哥华度过了平静安详的晚年生活。胡蝶的一生跨越时代，在剧烈的社会变迁中演绎出跌宕传奇的人生，踏出了中国影业迈向世界的第一步。胡蝶不仅是一位杰出的中国女演员，更作为加拿大华人文化史、世界电影史上的一位重要人物而被纪念。
胡蝶诞辰115年之际，本次展览集百余件胡蝶私人影像与物品，特别邀您一探蝶影芳踪。
策展人：国瑜冰 | 学术指导：郑胜天 | 特别顾问：刘慧琴 | 出品人：宁静
特别感谢：加拿大华人文学学会、温哥华美术馆
展览地址：
Sunzen Art Gallery（温哥华三生缘）, 420 Howe St., Vancouver
开放时间：
周二 - 周五: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
周六: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
周日、周一闭馆
免费入场。