STUDENT PICKS: Let Them In

Julia Xu is a member of the class of 2018 and the curator of this month's Student Picks show: Let Them In.

“For people’s hearts to communicate, there must be genuine emotion to strike a chord.”
– Wu Guanzhong

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^{Ghada Amer (born Egypt, 1963); Farkhondeh, Reza (born Iran, 1963). Kiss Cross, 2006. Lithograph printed in color with hand sewn elements on paper. Purchased with the Josephine A. Stein, class of 1927, Fund in honor of the class of 1927. SC 2008.45.2.}

We see Asia being represented by the West. But how do contemporary Asian artists depict themselves and their community? In this exhibition, art works by Asian artists reveal their own thoughts about their communities and their people across varied media – from photography, prints, to mixed media on paper. Formed out of the artists' experiences and observations, the art works here take you to a journey through the dreamy and immersive presentations of the Asian community.

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^{Lin Tianmiao. Chinese, born 1961. Focus XXIIII D, 2006-2007. Lithograph printed in black on STPI handmade paper with embedded thread. Gift of Friedman Benda LLC. SC 2013.76.5.}

Abstract and realistic works co-exist, since the strong emotion behind them unifies and connects them together in stunning ways. Growing up in Asia, the motifs and signs in the artworks relate to me strongly. I wish to share this experience with the Smith community, and I hope you enjoy this opportunity to learn more about the SCMA paper collection as a great resource.

The exhibition is made possible by Colleen McDermott and the Cunningham Center for Prints, Drawings and Photographs.