WESTERN FRONT – Launch of Retail Vérité: Vancouverama

Description:

To celebrate the launch of A Maior’s artist novella Retail Vérité: Vancouverama, Bruno Zhu of A Maior performed a reading at Sweet Cereal Mountain, an artist-run space located in Robson Public Market. Following the reading, a reception took place upstairs in the food court with catering from Nine Dumplings Nine Dishes.

Retail Vérité: Vancouverama was the outcome of writing workshops led by Zhu at Western Front in February 2025. Across three sessions, Zhu invited participants to arrive with a character—either a shopper or business—and from there they engaged in a series of improvisational exchanges. Operating in the spirit of exquisite corpse, the process generated its own internal logic, weaving together reflections on commerce, fashion, and popular culture into a supernatural murder mystery set in a Marpole strip mall.

On March 26, 2026, a launch event took place at Art Metropole, Toronto with a conversation between Bruno Zhu and writer Derek McCormack.

Presented in partnership with Art Metropole, Toronto; Bierke Verlag, Berlin; and Sweet Cereal Mountain, Vancouver with support from the Mondriaan Fund.

Western Front assistant curator Kiel Torres speaks with writer Bruno Zhu, her back against a gray tiled wall. She wears a blue T-shirt and beige skirt and gestures with her hands while talking. Bruno looks at her and smiles. He wears black pants and a black sweater with a floral motif. In the foreground, out of focus, an audience member listens attentively.

Writer Bruno Zhu reads from the book Retail Vérité: Vancouverama, holding its green cover in his hands. He appears concentrated and wears black pants, a black sweater with a floral motif, and reading glasses. The Sweet Cereal Mountain venue is well lit by natural light, with gray tiles covering the walls and floor. In the background, a plastic table holds additional copies of the book.

In this close-up shot, writer Bruno Zhu reads from the book Retail Vérité: Vancouverama, holding its green cover in his hands. He appears concentrated and wears black pants, a black sweater with a floral motif, and reading glasses. The Sweet Cereal Mountain venue is brightly lit and colorful, with green walls and a white door marked with red and blue stripes. In the background, a clock reads 4:44, and an audience member listens closely.

About twenty people gather around writer Bruno Zhu, seen mostly from behind as they listen. Some carry tote bags, while others take photos on their phones. Bruno wears black pants and a black sweater with a floral motif. He smiles and speaks to the audience. The Sweet Cereal Mountain venue is well lit by natural light and has a low ceiling. The overall mood feels cheerful.

Nine audience members gather around a catering service, two already carrying plates. A large banner above them displays the caterer’s name, Nine Dumplings Hand Made. The banner shows five types of dumplings in different colors: red, yellow, green, purple, and orange. Some people wait in line, while others talk to each other as they wait. A staff member wearing a purple T-shirt speaks to a customer while operating a card payment machine.

Four audience members gather around a table displaying dumpling trays, cans of soda, paper plates, and small sauce containers. While three of them are already serving themselves, a woman in the foreground reaches for a plate. She wears a denim jacket, black pants, and reading glasses, stretching her arm to reach a sauce container.

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Captions:

Kiel Torres and Bruno Zhu at Sweet Cereal Mountain, photo documentation, Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Bruno Zhu at Sweet Cereal Mountain, photo documentation, Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Bruno Zhu at Sweet Cereal Mountain, photo documentation, Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Bruno Zhu at Sweet Cereal Mountain, photo documentation, Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Retail Vérité: Vancouverama, photo documentation Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Retail Vérité: Vancouverama, photo documentation Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.
Retail Vérité: Vancouverama, photo documentation Mar 21, 2026. Photo by Rachel Topham Photography.

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Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.