In a special collaboration with the legendary French department store Galeries Lafayette, Opera Gallery – one of the largest and most respected gallery chains in the world – is delighted to present a solo exhibition of Chinese artist Fan Xiaoyan, coinciding with Galeries Lafayette’s first store launch in Beijing, China.
Titled “Unbreakable”, the exhibition will take place in the unique and happening “Le Jardin” space located on the fifth floor of the department store, spreading over 200 sqm in the atrium open space. This exhibition best reflects Galeries Lafayette’s brand mission of striving to present lively fashion and bringing to customers not only a shopping experience but also current fashion, art and culture.
On display are nine life size sculptures made of steel depicting the Chinese women revolution departing from the boundaries of hardship work in the factory world into powerful and independent reality as liberated women.
Fan Xiaoyan’s sculptures interpret modern Chinese women on a prominent new level by combining the soft and vulnerable bodies of women with hard, cold metal materials like steel and brass. The stark contrast and subtle penetration between the two counterparts bring to her audience a psychological and visually striking experience.
As a female artist, Fan Xiaoyan finds identification and resonance in using female figures as her subject, which depicted in her artwork in difficult and intricate situations, but are capable of overcoming obstacles to accomplish anything. Her female figurines serve as an outlet for the artist’s ideas and emotions on the status of female women in the Chinese culture, reflecting their struggle to break free.
In this series, Xiaoyan focuses on the fashion industry where women predominantly make up the work force in factories, working around the clock to meet quotas of high demand. The works on display physically describe the critical moment a woman breaks free from the weight of this kind of labor, symbolized by the buttons, needles and fabrics that have defined her existence.
“Women can hold half the sky, do what men can do and sometimes even better,” states Xiaoyan, emphasizing on the spirit of independence and self-confidence of the women in her artworks. Not only does the message she delivers apply to women, but also it extends to all minority groups in modern society.
“As our first pop up exhibition in China, and specifically to inaugurate our debut exhibition with Galeries Lafayette, we chose to highlight a Beijing artist that is becoming immensely successful on the international art scene. Xiaoyan’s work speak of women’s liberation in China, and with the context of fashion showing in the renowned department store, it seems the perfect platform to raise this important discussion. Here, the cultural shift is evident as women rapidly become the powerful consumer, claiming their freedom from traditional gender roles.’’ stated Shirley Yablonsky, Opera Gallery Hong Kong director.
Courtesy of Opera Gallery
