Lamenting to the heavens, lamenting to the earth.

The Ningxia Hundred Flowers Cooperative for women is located on the periphery of China’s impoverished western region of Xihaigu in Ningxia province. The mountains and valleys are very deep and the earth is arid all year around. The living conditions of the people are extremely harsh. In recent years, the local government has made efforts to implement policies to effectively and annually decrease the population living under the poverty line, through programs to alleviate poverty. However, due to the harsh natural circumstances, these efforts continuously face setbacks to the development of society and the local economy. In comparison to the Suzhou and Hangzhou city areas, Ningxia is indeed far from heaven. Yet, Wen Fang has discovered “Heaven” there. Wen Fang emphasizes that she has witnessed tenacity, optimism and elegance in every feeble life of the women of Ningxia. Every time she encounters such life, and such people, their seemingly hellish life could not conceal their heavenly radiance in their hearts. These women always give Wen Fang a glimpse of such radiance. The women of Ningxia do not blame others for their fate, rather, they are pursuing their own happiness with their own diligence. Wen Fang has found “Heaven” in their smiles – it is a “Heaven” found in their intrinsic optimism and tenacity, as well as in their passion to the land that has nurtured them.

In 2009, Wen Fang was introduced by the French NGO “Ningxia Women Association” to The Ningxia Hundred Flower Coop sisters, and began working on the “Arts for Crafts’ Sake” project. The “Arts for Crafts’ Sake” was a concept proposed by Wen Fang that combines traditional craftsmanship, which some people felt unnecessary in modern society in China’s far west, with the creativity of contemporary art and design. With local craftsmanship, the women have created a series of designs and artwork tailored to the international luxury market. Wen Fang aimed to intensify the influence of art on life, and, using the approach of development, to protect and pass on the skills of traditional craftsmanship to a new generation of artists, using creativity and the commoditization of artworks to help local craftspeople to alleviate poverty. After the artworks are shown and sold, Wen Fang will return half of the profits to members of The Hundred Flower Coop to invest in education, health care and development in order to realize the dream of “Arts for Crafts’ Sake.”

Hosted by Beijing Li-Space in collaboration with the French NGO “Ningxia Women’s Association,” and solely sponsored by Dior, Heaven, WEN Fang + Ningxia The Hundred Flowers Cooperative will be held at Li-Space at Caochangdi Red No.1, Building F in Beijing, from May 29th to July 17th. Curated by Gu Zhenqing, the opening ceremony will be held May 29th at 4 pm. Heaven will be the second art exhibition Wen Fang has collaborated with The Ningxia Hundred Flower Coop sisters. What kind of visual impact and conceptual evolution will be brought forth by the marriage of contemporary art and traditional handicraft? Please stay tuned.