Mandy Zhang Art and Silian Gallery are delighted to announce a collaborative duo exhibition by Li Yin (b. 1982, China) and Kaja Stumpf (b. 1987, Norway). On view from 23 February to 05 April 2024, Better Than Yesterday will take place at Silian Gallery’s space on King’s Road.
The convergence of Li Yin and Kaja Stumpf in Better Than Yesterday presents a thematic exploration of the erosion of individuality amidst societal machinations. This exhibition contemplates the self as it grapples with the veneer of societal vibrancy and the pursuit of fleeting ideals. The artists' works delve into the reclamation of identity through painting, tracing back to the roots and the essence of beginnings that resonate with authenticity and introspection.
Li Yin's series draws upon the intimate and now vanished Yinchang Valley of his childhood, a place once filled with laughter and companionship, now only a memory following the transformative Sichuan earthquake of 2008. His paintings serve as a portal to the past, capturing the essence of a lost home and the shared human experience of growth, loss, and the desire to return to a time of innocence. Li Yin's pieces are thus a testament to the enduring search for the self through the familiar yet distant landscapes of memory.
Just the opposite, Kaja Stumpf's detailed, zoomed-in compositions, derived from her family album, offer a stark contrast to Li Yin's expansive views, creating a dynamic juxtaposition that explores the interplay of personal and collective memories. Stumpf's work delves into the intricacies of memory and emotion, examining how selective recollection serves as a mechanism for navigating personal history and identity.
