By: Elena Mart
Philadelphia, PA – The exhibition “On the Critical Point: Wanderlust and Nostalgia in the New Age” opened at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum).
A collaborative effort between New York-based VSDesign, DesignPhiladelphia, and ALT Alliance, the exhibition seeks to evoke contemplation and connection, blending humanistic traditions with an increasingly post-human world. Opened in November this year, this innovative showcase features works by internationally renowned contemporary artists Mingze Gao and Azure Zheng alongside other distinguished artists, such as Dominic Terlizzi, Sheryl Oring, and Qin Zhao.
Artist Mingze Gao and Azure Zheng’s Growth Ring is an innovative interactive installation that blends tactile and auditory experiences. This captivating piece invites audiences to delve into abstract emotional storytelling through the senses of touch and sound. Expected to be a highlight of the exhibition, Growth Ring offers a unique perspective on the intersection of technological advancement and contemporary art. It heralds a new era of artistic expression, where technical prowess and creative vision converge to produce groundbreaking and thought-provoking works.
Their work “Growth Ring” was created through conductive paint and circuit components on the canvas. Viewers can put on the headphones and touch different sections of the audio waveform. Each touch triggers a corresponding sound delivered through the headphones. This sound-embedded interactive installation explores the journey of life.
Inspired by the growth rings of trees, each stage of life is depicted through distinct sounds and experiences, guiding viewers through a multi-sensory narrative that resonates with the audience’s respective life journeys. The stages are as follows:
Stage 1: Muffled sounds of heartbeats
Stage 2: The Footsteps of Eden
Stage 3: Unwrapping a cheap fruit candy
Stage 4: Wind chimes in the rainy season
Stage 5: The crackling of torches
Stage 6: The noise in New York City Subway
Stage 7: Gentle lapping of waves
These sound waves were visualized and curved into the shape of a growth ring, which mirrors the progress of time and the nonlinear nature of our life journeys.
Azure and Mingze’s collaboration on “Growth Ring” is a profound exploration of cultural identity and artistic expression, deeply enriched by their distinctive backgrounds.
Born and raised in China, both Mingze and Azure left their homeland to pursue their dreams in the United States. This new environment allowed them to experience the intersection of their identities, examine culture from a unique perspective, and share their experiences as travelers, dreamers, and passionate community builders.
Azure, a trained therapist working with BIPOC communities, is passionate about using art to explore human connections, examine social oppression, and revisit intergenerational dynamics—topics that may be harder to explore with words. Through art and its abstract nature, Azure hopes to spark thoughts on the differences and common themes in our life’s journey, highlighting the commonalities in human nature despite our visual differences.
Mingze, a rising artist gaining public attention, uses his art to explore human emotions and the interaction between art and the audience. The echoes between the artwork and the audience are central to his philosophy. Rooted in Plato’s Theory of Forms, Mingze delves into the underlying colors of human emotions through his work. His belief in the tangible nature of art as a bridge to complex emotions allows viewers to connect with the artwork on a deeply personal level.
Through this collaboration, Azure and Mingze hone in on emotional expression and human connectedness through the themes of Wanderlust and Nostalgia. They aim to elicit shared emotional experiences in humanity through interactive installations, highlighting their unique backgrounds. “Growth Ring” encompasses the artistic value and emotional experiences of both an “outsider” of the culture and an “insider” of the human experience. Their combined perspectives create a holistic understanding of how we experience emotions and life journeys through interactions with nature, cityscapes, and the inherent nostalgia of our past. This project is rich in artistic, cultural, and emotional values.
The Penn Museum, with its rich history dating back to 1887, provides a fitting backdrop for this exploration of time and culture. Spanning over 300,000 square feet and welcoming more than 180,000 visitors every year, the museum’s expansive galleries offer a unique context for Mingze Gao and Azure Zheng’s works.
As the art world continues to grapple with questions of identity, tradition, and progress, this exhibition at the Penn Museum serves as a crucial platform for exploration and understanding. With Mingze Gao and Azure Zheng’s innovative practice at the forefront, Growth Ring aims to be a thought-provoking journey through the landscapes of artistic innovation.
Published by: Khy Talara
