On Friday, May 11th, 2012 come to OBORO to discover 12 Characters, this dual series of original portraits based on the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, inspired by jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams’ seminal 1945 album The Zodiac Suite. Woven together as a continuum of aural and visual vignettes, these oblique yet concise portraits borrow much from tradition while remaining flagrantly modern. By layering current experiences over past histories, 12 Characters becomes a potent living statement on mixed self-identities and the diverse qualities that unite us, presented through video projections and live musical performances.

Parker MAH was born in Vancouver in the year of the Rooster. A trained jazz pianist, he also counts photography and multimedia installations among his creative endeavors. In the field of music, Parker emerged as a talented young sideman for local jazz, funk and soul groups in his native Vancouver. Since he moved to Montreal in 2007, he has become an in-demand keyboardist in the local world music scene. A diversified visual approach, drawing inspiration from techniques of jazz improvisation and oral history, has marked his photographic works which range from the journalistic to the participatory. His images have been exhibited both in Canada and internationally. He is currently working on a documentary about the identity of young Chinese in Quebec.