V.A.N.I.T.A.S.
Absurdity
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A Group Exhibition by artists, absurdists, and nihilists Bloc Gallery 408 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL February 25-March 10, 2018 |
Featuring artists
Reikin Ahokawa Heather Hua Mandi Shi Mew Tachibana Curated by Lingjun Jiang |
The group show entitled “V.A.N.I.T.A.S.” concerns topics of mental health, identity, death, pathos, and self-care.
Addressing these issues, the four young women, R. Ahokawa, Heather Hua, Mandi Shi, and Mew Tachibana,
present unique aesthetics through their diverse art practices.
Going through different personal struggles, trauma, and mental health issues,
they similarly selected art as a method of engagement.
However, this exhibition not only hopes to present the therapeutic aspect of art-making,
but also wishes to invite audiences to look into these artists’ narratives
and to enjoy the aesthetic experience as well as insightful subjects in their works.
Addressing these issues, the four young women, R. Ahokawa, Heather Hua, Mandi Shi, and Mew Tachibana,
present unique aesthetics through their diverse art practices.
Going through different personal struggles, trauma, and mental health issues,
they similarly selected art as a method of engagement.
However, this exhibition not only hopes to present the therapeutic aspect of art-making,
but also wishes to invite audiences to look into these artists’ narratives
and to enjoy the aesthetic experience as well as insightful subjects in their works.
ARTISTS
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Reikin Ahokawa
Reikin Ahokawa is an independent, outsider artist working with digital illustrations. Her works deal with subjects in mental health and individual identity, drawing inspiration from traditional Japanese art motifs in woodblock prints and paintings. Her takes on Japanese aesthetic synthesized with contemporary discourses, which can be seen in her illustrations, presenting a unique world of view. Ahokawa suffered long from unstable mental and physical health and illusions. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and dissociative identity disorder (DID). After three months of hospitalization in one summer, she chose art as a practice to converse with herself in the long fight against mental illness. Through Ahokawa’s lens of unique aesthetics, these illustrations will reveal a mental patient’s isolated, yet intriguing art world. |
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Heather Hua
I perceive emotions and traumas, excavate hidden joys and pains and try to hit some aspects of readers’ inner thought, so that they may feel the warmth of being embraced and empathized. This is a work intended to explore, empathize and develop personality.
People with avoidant personality live in their closed shells, and it is difficult for them to open their hearts to others. There is always a wall isolating their comfort zone. They especially need space and silence. They are seemingly steady and independent but numb and weak inside. Therefore, their gentleness and cultivation are intended to avoid conflict. Actually, they deal with rainstorms arduously and keep all pains in mind silently. Avoidant personality and other attachment types are topics with deep and profound influences on individual lives. Meanwhile, they become important topics in art.
I perceive emotions and traumas, excavate hidden joys and pains and try to hit some aspects of readers’ inner thought, so that they may feel the warmth of being embraced and empathized. This is a work intended to explore, empathize and develop personality.
People with avoidant personality live in their closed shells, and it is difficult for them to open their hearts to others. There is always a wall isolating their comfort zone. They especially need space and silence. They are seemingly steady and independent but numb and weak inside. Therefore, their gentleness and cultivation are intended to avoid conflict. Actually, they deal with rainstorms arduously and keep all pains in mind silently. Avoidant personality and other attachment types are topics with deep and profound influences on individual lives. Meanwhile, they become important topics in art.
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Mandi Shi
I am an artist from China, working with oil and acrylic paint. Inspired by the freehand spirit of traditional Chinese art and the postmodern art that aims to eliminate stereotypes and unified aesthetics, I pursue an unencumbered state in my paintings by focusing on expressing the intrinsic nature of my subjects. Influenced by surrealism, my paintings emphasize the sub-consciousness and dream, value the original state of mind, and seek for a sense of spiritual detachment. I explore the relationship between time and life, offering a new way to look at human and art. The universe, as the origin of life, is a theme that I am always passionate about. For many years, people have been exploring the mysteries of the universe. Such exploration not only grants people with inspiration and creativity, but also promotes the advancement of civilization of the entire society. Freedom is the ultimate meaning of the universe, which is unbounded by time, gravity, and space. I think the internal structure of a person's body is the same as that of the universe. Everyone has its own unique system. |
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Mew Tachibana
I am a fictitious existence born out of someone’s schizophrenic illusion. She sometimes uses my identity when working on art and stuff. I work with various mediums including oil, acrylic, watercolor, digital art, etc. My works deal with subjects of mental health, transience, loneliness, identity, imaginary friend, and self-care, drawing inspiration from traditional East Asian art, literature, pop-culture, and my own experience. I believe that our existence is unsystematic and meaningless, but we have to embrace the absurdity and keep on searching for meanings from the meaningless. I am such a loner and loser. I developed a sense of alienation and disconnect through my travels and study-abroad experience, but it was this feeling of belonging to nowhere that gave me a kick and encouraged me to continue art practice. I am a very social person because I have so many (imaginary) friends. I’m proud. |
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CURATORLingjun Jiang
ljiang17@illinois.edu From Guangzhou, China. Student in History of Art Concentrating on Japanese visual culture. WeChat| MEW3MEW |
SPECIAL THANKSMEW3MEW
mew3mew.com From Planet M-9029 MewMew: Imaginary friends and others A materially and spiritually homeless beggar in a global context Instagram | mew3mew.art |
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Need Help
Need to Talk? |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Referral Helpline
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