Monique
Monique Lai
STORYTELLER
Born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, I started my journey in entertainment as a theatre director. As a storyteller and at heart a filmmaker, my passion for cinema lead me to produce stories, concepts, ideas with a collaborative team via The Loft Works Studio. My mission — to connect and engage an audience through the art of storytelling.
Monique Lai 賴 昱 蓉
Weblinks: linktr.ee/moniquelai
WeChat ID: lai_monique
You Are Not You
A Multimedia Art Installation
I like you for being you!
The beginning stages of butterflies in your stomach. Feeling giddy for no reason at all. Smiling. Glowing with delight at the beginning of an affair. But is this love? Will this love continue to grow in the good times and the bad … And how bad can it get?
Where we are now and where we will be 5 years from now is anyone’s guess, but life in itself is about taking chances, making choices, and relishing all the good in between.
When life happens and it will get tough, the choice to stay or to leave is what we ask. The question: has time brought you both together or has life torn you apart.
Where do you go from here is the underlying subtext of this work. Will an illness break you both apart or will the bonds of time force you to stay?
This art installation series features Jebediah Shorten.
You are not you. The Journey.
Exhibition Enquiries:
Art Shows
Photography Exhibitions
Solo Shows
- ‘The Beauty Within’, ArcLight Culver City in Los Angeles (2016)
- ‘Déjà Vu’ at Hotel Stage in Hong Kong (2016) and Kodak House in Hong Kong (2013)
- ‘Rêvant des Révolutions’ at PS Bookshop in Dumbo (2011)
- ‘Rêvant des Révolutions’ at DNA Gallery in Provincetown (2010)
- ‘Rêvant des Révolutions’ at Red Elation Gallery in Hong Kong (2009)
- ‘Provocative’ at Primitivo Restaurant in New York City (2008)
- ‘Private Property’ at the ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles (2007)
Group Shows
- Cha Yip Daan, Ed. 1/10 at Brunswick Group Charity Auction in Hong Kong (2020)
- ‘La Dolce Vita’ at (S)ML Suitcase Packed (2012) Shanghai, Beijing
- ‘Rêvant des Révolutions’ at Frexh Shanghai (2010)
- ‘Private Property’ at Behind the Green Door, DNA Gallery in Provincetown (2010)
– 2006 to 2008 –
‘Jamaica, Farewell’, the Play
★★★★ TimeOut NY Critics Pick “Fantastic performance!”
Starring Debra Ehrhart ⎟ Directed by Monique Lai
- Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada.
- Amaturo Theatre, Broward Center of the Performing Arts, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
- Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA
- Soho Playhouse, NYC
- Byrdcliffe Theatre, Woodstock, NY
- Independent Theatre, NYC
- Academy Theatre, Atlanta, GA
- Santa Monica Playhouse, Santa Monica, CA
- Whitefire Theatre, Sherman Oaks, CA
- Colony Theatre, Burbank, CA
- Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
- Highways Performance, Santa Monica, CA
- Masquers Cabaret, West Hollywood, CA
“Jamaica Farewell” Brings Socio-Political Issues from the Fringe to the Center — Lavern McDonald
“The content and message not withstanding, Ehrhardt is evidently an earnest practitioner of her craft. Her directing and staging team offered huge supports for the project. Director Monique Lai, a Fine Arts photographer, challenged Ehrhardt to use every possible aspect of the stage frame. A visit to world famous Dunns River Falls with her unwitting prey — ‘the American, the arachnid Ehrhardt lolls on top of chairs in a sultry and suggestive pose akin to that of a bikini model reclining on sand’.”
Jamaica: What Brews Behind Paradise — Lauren Lee
“As a performer, Ms. Ehrhardt aptly transforms into different characters’ bodies and voices. We are in trustworthy hands as she takes us through moments of deep compassion, heavy fear, and youthful delight. Equally adept as a writer, she knows how to command rapt attention through suspense and jarring juxtapositions. With the assistance of simple, yet effective staging by Monique Lai, Ehrhardt offers an experience that attunes the audience to the power of personal storytelling.”
– 2006 –
No Place Like Home, the Film
Voiceover Actress. Directed by Perry Henzell
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Fine Art
Limited Edition Photography
“We value great photographers for their rare ability to see the same everyday scenes and objects we all do. And yet, through their vision, skills and a little magic, transform them into something very different, moving, and eternal— fine art. We are privileged in this auction to present the works of accomplished, unique photographers who have risen to the challenge of interpreting and defining life’s large and small ideas, objects and events through the magic of their lenses, and have done so impressively.” – BNO Auction
“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” — Ansel Adams
Fine Art Photography & Exhibition Enquiries:
The Beauty Within
Installation View
Sharing key moments and installation highlights at the ArcLight Culver City photography exhibition in Los Angeles. There are 25 works featuring my travels in Vietnam, China, and Hong Kong.
Look closely and find the ‘secret’ star in the pictures …
#beautybymoniquelai
Purchase Enquiries:
Street Photography
ArcLight Culver City
Going back to the ArcLight, where it all started! My very 1st exhibition however, was in Hollywood, this time — it is in Downtown Culver City. I will be presenting my selection of favourite pictures of my travels in Asia.
#beautybymoniquelai
Purchase Enquiries:
The Beauty Within
Asia
I am thrilled to be sharing my street-style photography work titled, ‘The Beauty Within’.
This wild idea came to me in 2009 when I was living in Brooklyn. 7 years later, I am super excited to showcase my Asian adventures.
This work premieres in Los Angeles at the ArcLight Culver City! The dates: October 5 thru December 13, 2016.
See you at the movies!
A very special thank you to Gordon Cheung at Zetter Picture Framer, Paul Tam at Digital Force, Joe Wong in Hong Kong, and Installation designer Sharon While.
Purchase Enquiries:
Déjà Vu POP-UP Art
Metallic Prints!
Art photography — Framed artwork and metallic prints available for sale at Muse Art & Books.
Hotel Stage is located at 1 Chi Wo Street, Jordan, Kowloon.
Pei Cho
Much love from Hong Kong!
Purchase Enquiries:
Déjà Vu
Hotel Stage guests playfully designed their creative wall with magnetic artwork from the Déjà Vu photography collection.
A special thank you to all who visited, and showcased their talents on the MUSE wall! Here are a few highlights from the ‘Design Your Own Wall’ challenge:
#dejavubymoniquelai
Purchase Enquiries:
