By: Jinyi Freya Xu
In the heart of winter, the Last Call (January 25–31, 2025) unfolds as an invitation to reflect on the intersection of the ordinary and extraordinary. Organized by CHINCHINART, the exhibition draws inspiration from Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère. This exhibition curates a potential dialogue between contemporary artists and the subtle tensions that reside in fleeting moments. Much like the barmaid in Manet’s work—lost in contemplation yet surrounded by movement—the works on display hint at the quiet fractures beneath the surface of modern life.
Artists offer a distinct lens into an intimate perspective on transient moments, where vibrant exteriors may betray hidden depths. With its intricate balance of detachment and intimacy, Tommaso Nicolao’s work navigates liminal spaces where time appears to pause. The everyday objects seem to carry their own meaning, inviting us to reread them from a different angle. The installation of his paintings constructs what could be described as a poetic frozen plot, echoing the last call’s significance—the final moment before departure.
Mariana Vidal seems to explore memory as a reconstructed entity throughout the exhibition. Her works function almost like déjà vu—familiar yet elusive. Through heat-pressing vintage napkins with clear foil and flock, The Parties (2023) weaves her inherited Italian and Colombian linens into evocative, warm memories that may resonate deeply with what feels like the softest part of our hearts. Every stain, frayed lace, and embroidered motif appears undeniable, no longer fading into nostalgia but instead being brought forward or renewed. The material suggests that the past is not just remembered but continuously reinterpreted. In The Parties, Mariana seems not merely to archive memories but to live them anew.
In exploring the everyday use of objects and the memory they carry, Chloe Scout Nix reimagines the perspective from which we view them. The tilted chair and table raise questions about the philosophy of Plato: Why is a chair called a chair? What if a chair loses its function of sitting? Chloe invites us to abandon rigid stereotypes of objects and reconsider: if things lose their existing function, what will they become? The same question might apply to our selves.
The Last Call evokes the final drink before closing, the last opportunity to act, or the turning point before an inevitable shift—and perhaps a final moment to rethink our everyday lives. It is not necessarily the end of something but also about transition—the in-between state where clarity and uncertainty seem to coalesce. The works on display appear to capture this space of flux, where meaning is neither fixed nor fully revealed. Much as Manet’s barmaid might, the exhibition offers a still gaze back at its viewers, inviting us to pause, to notice, to perceive the details we could overlook.
Exhibition Review
The Last Call Review – A Moment Suspended in Time
Writer: Jinyi Freya Xu
References
Zhu, Xiaojing. (2025). The Last Call curatorial statement.
Https://Www.Tommaso-Nicolao.Com/. (2025).
Https://Marianavidal.Com/Memory-Is-a-Photocopy-1. (2025).
Chloe: Https://Www.Chloescoutnix.Com/. (2025).
Jinyi Freya Xu
Jinyi Freya Xu is a writer specializing in contemporary art and cultural discourse. Her work explores the evolving role of artists and unseen narratives. With a background in arts administration and historical research, she brings a strategic yet deeply engaged perspective to her writing. Her approach blends analytical depth with a narrative sensibility, drawing from experiences in curation, academic research, and entrepreneurship. Beyond writing, she actively fosters creative dialogue, artist development, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Holding advanced degrees in visual arts administration at NYU, Freya’s work seeks to bridge critical inquiry with accessible storytelling, offering fresh insights into the shifting landscapes of contemporary art and its broader societal implications.
CHINCHINART
CHINCHINART is a contemporary art institution born in Shanghai. The institution is committed to breaking down the boundaries between art and the audience, creating an environment that is highly interactive and experientially rich, and encouraging audiences to experience art in a more intuitive and personalized manner. Furthermore, the institution emphasizes the integration of art and social practice, exploring how art might respond to social issues, promote community development, and enhance cultural understanding. It supports artists in delving deep into social issues and presents the results of these studies to the public in diverse forms.
Published by Jeremy S.
