Two New Exhibitions at UCCA: Li Ming and Haegue Yang

Last week, two new exhibitions opened at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art: New Directions: Li Ming, and Haegue Yang: Come Shower or Shine, It Is Equally Blissful. On Friday, we were invited to tour the exhibitions and to a conversation with the artists, allowing for a closer look at the new shows.

Li Ming's show, part of the New Directions series which focuses on young Chinese artists, turns the UCCA's Long Gallery into a site-specific video installation entitled MEIWE. The show is based on Guo Juan's essay The Appearance and Disappearance of a Group of People delving into the psychology of a group of people, looking into art as a way to unify and divide.
 

The exhbition raises questions of indivituality and identity, with images of runners projected along the wall on the left as you move further into the exhibition, with the MEIWE logo flashing in the background and reflected on the floor. Li Ming has been quoted as saying that he believes that "there is no 'I'; it is merely an illusion of existence," an idea that is recognizable in his exhibition.

The second exhibition, by Korean artist Haegue Yang, brings a collection of different exhibitions, all with very different feels, themes, and insight. While the range of environments and atmospheres makes it hard to specify a favorite, the pieces made using household items such as venetian blinds, electric cables, and light bulbs stole the show.
 

Towards the end of the exhibition, other favorites included the wallpaper collage series that incorporates art pieces made using the security features found on the insides of envelopes. The final results are surprisingly unique and intricate, considering that only envelopes are used to create them: the colors and patterns are eye-catching and entertaining. 

Both shows are running at the UCCA in 798 Art District until January 3, open Tuesday-Sunday between 10am-6pm. RMB 10 entry, free on Thursdays.

More stories by this author here.
Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
Instagram: s.xuagram

Photos courtesy of the UCCA