Whispers of the diaspora Art Exhibition: Oil Painting & Photography at Newport Beach

“Whispers of the diaspora” is a dual solo exhibition organized by AACA at the Gong Gallery, featuring painter Star Li and photographer Tianyi. Exhibits include a selection of the works created by Star and Tianyi spanning from 2015 to the present day, in an attempt to forge a dialogue between the two artists and to explore the connection between their creations in terms of visuals and concepts.

Star Li focuses on expressionist oil paintings with transparent or translucent media; the current exhibit spotlights glass still lifes. Although Star’s hard-edge technique using a palette knife and the strong colors create a powerful sense of collision, her works do not launch aggressive words to the viewer. On the contrary, they present an almost lonely quietness, speaking like a babble.

A large number of Tianyi’s works are rooted in street photography. He is keen on capturing the fleeting, unconventional moments in daily life and unearthing the unique details within the random ordinary. Tanya’s frames encompass a strong sense of solitude and estrangement but also tell stories. He employs the camera lens to establish an intimate space for dialogue between the subject and the viewer. Through this silent conversation, his works speak like gentle whispers: soft yet firm; private yet clear.

Both artists were born in 1986 in Liaoning, China. Star has been moving around the world since she was a child, and Tianyi also traveled across the ocean in his adolescence. Both of them have been repeatedly sculpted by a kaleidoscope of cultures and diverse societal strata. The two artists, being of the same age and started from the same place, have been living as cultural nomads for half their lives, and now use visual artistry as a bridge of communication on the other side of the world. Their works have drastically different styles, but in the whispering sense of loneliness, they share the same tune.

Join us for the opening reception on September 29 at Gong Gallery.  We invite you to be part of this exciting journey into the world of emerging artistry.