Yukai Chen: Sea Breeze

Opening Reception: Friday, February 23, 2024, 5-8PM
Artist Walkthrough: Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 3PM

Chinese American Arts Council/Gallery 456 is pleased to present “Sea Breeze,” on view from February 23, 2024 through March 9, 2024.

Sea Breeze focuses on the urbanization of Xiamen, documenting the transitional state of this city filled with religion and migration.

Xiamen is one of six special economic zones, separated from Taiwan by a channel. Its economy has dramatically increased with its new status. On the island, the Siming District, facing Taiwan, has long been a more mature urban area, while the Huli District, inland, has been slower to develop and still has many villages dating back to ancient times. However, with the recent policy announced by the local government, demolition has begun in these villages.

Having grown up in a small village among them, the artist turned their camera to the communities they grew up in, capturing the transformation of their hometown. Their images depict scenes from multiple villages they have visited, as well as things that have been left or preserved. While the pictures serve as evidence and the project remains ongoing, many scenes the artist has documented no longer exist. Therefore, these images also represent the collective memories of people who used to be there.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Yukai Chen is a photographer born in Xiamen, China and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. His work explores themes of queerness, cultures, urbanization, and globalization, and has been showcased in numerous exhibitions including at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Plaxall Gallery in New York, and Panopticon Gallery in Boston. His works have also been featured in various platforms including The Boston Globe and Boston Art Review.

Gallery 456
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Chinese American Arts Council’s Gallery 456 Visual Arts Exhibition Series is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.