Ink & Rhythm
A Live Performance Celebrating Creativity, Memory & Cultural Connection
Experience an extraordinary collaboration between acclaimed Chinese American artist Jun Jun and internationally celebrated Zimbabwean musician Piwai, as painting and music unfold together in a live performance exploring creativity, memory, and cultural connection.
Throughout the evening, Jun Jun will create expressive paintings in real time while Piwai responds through song, mbira, and rhythm, weaving together two artistic traditions in an improvisational dialogue that transcends language. Together, they invite audiences to experience how art can carry memory, celebrate identity, and build bridges across cultures.
Following the performance, meet the artists, explore the exhibition, and enjoy authentic Zimbabwean cuisine provided by the Zimbabwe Cultural Exchange Project of California.
About the Artists
Jun Jun is a Chinese American artist whose work is shaped by a lifelong journey between cultures. Born and educated in China, she studied Zen calligraphy before moving to California in 1999, where she later earned a degree in painting from Sonoma State University. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Bay Area, including commissions for Levi’s Stadium and UCSF, and she currently serves as an Artist in Residence at UCSF, using expressive art to support cancer patients and their families. Her paintings reflect healing, resilience, and the beauty of our shared humanity.
Piwai is an internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean singer, songwriter, and mbira player whose performances blend traditional Zimbabwean music with contemporary sounds. A gifted gwenyambira (traditional mbira musician), she has captivated audiences around the world and collaborated on the Grammy Award-winning album Last Days of Oakland. Beyond the stage, Piwai works with grassroots organizations, youth groups, and nonprofits throughout California and Africa, using music to foster cultural exchange, community connection, and social change.