红灯笼 2017

Editor: Here we have Xinwang's “红灯笼 (Red Lantern)” painted in 2017, made with acrylic paint. The heavy texture gives me the impression of looking at a very dense forest, a kind of abstracted landscape. What can you tell me about it? Curator: The painting’s title, “Red Lantern,” juxtaposed with what feels like an aggressively rendered landscape, offers us a critical space for interrogation. What does "lantern" evoke for you? Think about traditional contexts, Chinese New Year, but also think about surveillance. Are those celebratory or oppressive signifiers? Editor: I see your point about the double meaning! Especially if we think about these lanterns maybe hanging in a space of confinement...it definitely changes the mood. But, even so, how can we be sure? Curator: Abstraction, in this case, allows for, perhaps even demands, multiple readings. And this tension between a festive object and the harsh application of paint encourages us to reflect on how celebrations themselves can mask systemic issues, and the commodification of culture that happens on a global scale. Where does pleasure intersect with political awareness? Editor: I hadn't thought about the performative aspect of it all! So you see this painting as speaking to a more broad commentary on cultural identity? Curator: Exactly! Xinwang uses an abstract expressionist approach not to divorce the work from meaning, but to embed it in layers of possibility and resistance. It pushes us to be active viewers. Editor: This has completely changed my perspective. I appreciate learning how abstract art can address serious topics and engage with social commentary. Curator: Agreed. And by situating our experience of the painting within its historical moment, perhaps we might move towards more socially responsible art appreciation and engagement in our everyday life.