Work in Progress: the Changing Faces of Asia
Round 2：“Work in Progress – The Idea of ‘Asia’” Exhibition Series
Featuring: Zuo Zhengyao, Liu Tianlian, Elisabeth Lafolye-Acogny
Exhibition Dates: March 8 - April 6, 2025
The H Foundation for the Arts presents "Imagery Reborn: Contemporary ‘Asia’ as an Artistic Concept," an open studio exhibition series that explores Asia's evolving identity and its global connections. The series redefines "Asia" beyond rigid geographical, ethnic, and traditional boundaries, presenting it as a fluid, dynamic concept. The first exhibition, "Different Faces of Asian Art," features artists Zuo Zhengyao, Liu Tianlian, and Elisabeth Lafolye-Acogny, who delve into themes of cultural identity, representation, and diaspora. The open studio format allows viewers to witness the creative process firsthand, turning the exhibition space into a dynamic venue for interaction and discovery. This initiative bridges traditional and contemporary narratives, celebrating the intersection of creativity and tradition while offering a fresh perspective on the possibilities of "Asia" in modern art.
Zhengyao Zuo is a distinguished artist and senior professor at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. He serves as the Vice Chairman of the Ceramic Art Committee of the China Artists Association and previously directed the University City Art Museum. A seasoned juror for major national art exhibitions, he has played a key role in shaping contemporary Chinese art. His work has been exhibited in museums worldwide, including in the U.S., U.K., and Japan, and is held in the collections of institutions such as the National Museum of China and Tsinghua University Art Museum, as well as private collectors globally.
Tianlian Liu was born in 1987 in Chongqing, moved to Shantou in 2003. She earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Chinese Painting from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Her works have been showcased in solo exhibitions both domestically and internationally, including in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Germany. Notable exhibitions include "Listening to Music" (2021) and "Two Worlds" (2018). She has also participated in group exhibitions such as "Until Moss Grows: Female Artists in Ink Painting" (2019). Her works, which focus on traditional Chinese meticulous flower and bird painting, have been exhibited in various museums and international platforms.
Elisabeth Lafolye-Acogny, a French artist and former model, studied at Les Beaux-Arts and lived in various cities, including Paris, London, and New York. Her extensive travels in Africa, especially in Ivory Coast and Senegal, deeply influenced her work. She uses color, acrylic glass, gold leaf, and minerals to merge abstraction with reality, exploring the world's divisions and harmony. A hypnotherapist, she creates art based on self-hypnosis, conveying a reverence for nature and a message of hope, peace, and the beauty of life.
