An artist shares her passion in new exhibition
After finishing high school in Minhang, 25-year-old Xu Yichen went to United States to pursue her dream of art. She was recently back in Shanghai as curator of her first art exhibition.
Entitled “Forty Degrees North, Seventy-Four Degrees West,” the exhibition at the M50 displayed more than 40 works of seven artists living in New York City, each paying tribute to Xu’s “home away from home.”
“I wanted to use what I’ve learned to bring more sense of art to the city and to people here as well,” said Xu.
The title of the exhibition refers to the geographic coordinates of New York City, where Xu lived.
Artists in the exhibition are people from different cultural backgrounds, which Xu said exemplifies the melting pot that is New York. Among them are four artists who were recommended by the LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies.
“In New York, there are countless possibilities, but it is a place where people can discover their true selves,” she said. “That is the mindset of many of Chinese students there.”
Xu’s journey into art started in elementary school, where she excelled in painting classes, which set her apart from most other students. She continued her artistic works through high school
“My teacher Zhou Wenfu always told me never to give up,” she said. “He exerted great influence on my career.”
Xu, however, never considered painting as a career. Rather, she regards it as a “hobby” that strikes deep in her soul.
“Standing in a gallery, looking at works of art that I love, evokes great joy in my heart,” she said.
In the US, Xu earned a double bachelor’s degree in art and journalism at the University of Idaho. Later, she took a master’s degree in art business at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York.
After graduation, she worked for three different auction houses before returning to Shanghai in September.
During her stay in the US, Xu established the Mr Shiny Art (www.mrshinyart.com), an online platform for artist exchange and promotion. New artists, mainly from Beijing and Shanghai, were given the opportunity to stand out.
The platform provided a synchronized online display of “Forty Degrees North, Seventy-Four Degrees West” during the exhibition. It gave background information on the works and the artists.
Xu said she wanted something different with the traditional art exhibition.
“This is the exhibition style of us in the young generation,” she said.
Forty Degrees North, Seventy-four Degrees West
“The Year” by Trenton Doyle Hancock
Hancock is a native of Texas. His print works are known for their complicated, intertwining lines that tell different stories. In 2007, he was granted the Joyce Alexander Wein Award issued by the Studio Museum in Harlem.
“Line Unraveled” by Shahzia Sikander
Born in Pakistan, Sikander moved to New York in 1995. Her works are deeply influenced by miniature paintings of India and Persia. She is a pioneer in combining miniatures with modern art.
“NY Skyline” by Gu Zhongsheng
Born in northeastern China’s Jilin Province, Gu is a photographer who now lives in Brooklyn. This work is described as a rhymed melody, evoking different tones of people in the city.
“Urban” by Fu Xiao
Fu’s specialty is depicting city scenes and feelings in Chinese ink and wash. Born in northeastern China’s Liaoning Province, her works show relationships and differences between Chinese and Western culture.
“Book of Innocence” by Lee Yujin
Born in South Korea, Lee calls herself the “Third Culture Kid” because of her experiences in Asia, America and Europe. Her works stretch to a wide range of genres, including painting, print, writing and acting.
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