In The Mood For Love 花样年华

Seventeen women artists with roots in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Chinese-American diasporas are featured in this compelling group exhibition of women artists at VillageOneArt. Indicating contemporary artistic trends in figuration, historical painting styles, abstraction and mixed media art-making, with an eye toward palimpsests - layered images that erode over time - indicating the presence of history and evolving styles within the formal elements of their artworks. Works by Min Huang and Min Luo in particular embrace repetition and layers, centering on clear elements related to identity then layering in additional elements to bring a deeper meaning through careful yet varied representations of a singular theme. Yanzi Zhang similarly builds sculptures embracing repeating yet singular elements in soft sculpture works that imply movement while remaining static and unified.

Figuration by Ellie Kayu Ng and Xiangni Song bring measured yet nuanced approaches to the subjects of their painting. Natural elements in works of Tianlian Liu evokes fantastic reconsiderations of celebrations evoking seasonal changes. Abstraction by Pei Ou brings the viewer a contemporary approach to painterly volume in elements present in these compositions. Yanzi Zhang’s vertical abstraction works incorporate thread and gauze into what can otherwise be observed as a composition made in the vein of ink painting traditions of ancient China. Jiayuan Shen and Cai Shen offer the viewer layered, at times fragmented views of figures that probe us to question how we consider form.

By speaking from their personal experiences via their unique artistic practices, each woman undeniably embraces bringing a sense of mood and lived experience to this powerful exhibition of contemporary women artists from Asian diasporas.