A quarter of the way into the 21st century, and with perilous current events looming large –events which seem to defy historical context -- how do artists anchor themselves in past practices while also looking towards the sky, the future, tenuous as it may be?
In many ways, art can be an aesthetic anchor. It provides roots that tell of personal history, of homeland, even of the grand narrative of pictorial history. From the viewers’ perspective, it allows us to take root and settle into the depths of history, imbuing the work with weight, reflection and resonance. Art can also be a survival function, a reaction to the burdens of life; we are affected by an all-powerful force, and our reaction is to look up, again and again. In the vastness of above lie our dreams and aspirations. Anchor and sky, heaviness and lightness, stability and transcendence, tradition and innovation: these important dualities are brought to the fore, to be considered by a group of outstanding contemporary female artists.
Each work in this exhibition is a testament to the resilience, vision, and exploratory spirit of 16 Chinese female artists. They are quite a geographically eclectic bunch, hailing from Beijing, Shanghai, Nanchang, Chengdu, Tianjin, Changsha, Hangzhou, Yokohama, Seville, Paris, San Francisco and Chicago Through a wide variety of media, they challenge tradition, reshape narratives, open up new paths, tell personal stories, forming a kind of grand symphony that reflects their common strength, and pioneering spirit, all the while employing abundant creativity.
This exhibition is not just a display, but a dialogue. A space for stories to unfold and emotions to resonate resonance. It is also a display and as well as prompt for self-improvement. It invites viewers to consider duality in their own lives: Where do we find our anchor? How do we embrace the sky?We welcome you to experience Anchor and Sky's 2025 female artists online exhibition - to see, to feel, to fly.
Avant-garde Art Projects Curator: Zelene Jiang Schlosberg March 1, 2025