The Sojourner Gallery in Greenwich Village was filled with sunshine and laughter as a group of young artists proudly presented their artwork and shared their personal stories with the audience. Each of the sixteen art pieces displayed was a reflection of the artist’s individuality, capturing their background, self-reflections on identity, inspiration, and love.
“In addition to art, another passion of mine is sociology,” says Chenxi (Amy) Dong, tonight’s winner of the COA Youth Artist Award. She later explains her piece, Painted Turtle (2022), saying, “When I was young, I often saw people selling painting turtles on the streets, and it still happens today. Painted turtles tend not to eat a lot due to the artificial dyeing inside of them. As a result, they often die very quickly.” Amy’s work takes the form of a book with a carefully cut-out section. Her intention is to eliminate monotony associated with the background of the texts by altering the body of the book.
Also announced, for the first time ever, was the recipient of The COA Annual Artist Award: Yiting Liu from the New York Academy of Art. She bravely states, while looking righteous at the crowd, “The first lesson I learned is to embrace stupidity. As an artist, you must believe in this. No one has the right to dictate what you should do or not do.” Yiting’s latest painting, Heaven (2023), does not fit the conventional image of paradise in the viewers’ minds. Boldly, she intentionally avoids the symbolism and encapsulation of heaven by incorporating a significant portion of low-key tones in the center. Nevertheless, the artwork reflects viewers’ inner world and communication with God.
The Vantage Point exhibition showcases the artistic talents of American students and explores the experiences of Chinese students in the 21st century. The exhibit features a diverse range of artwork, including traditional Chinese ink, animation, and sculpture, among others. It provides a platform for young artists to express their perspectives on globalization and its impact on their lives. Visitors can gain valuable insights into the contemporary life of Chinese citizens worldwide. Vantage Point offers a unique opportunity to explore fresh ideas where cultures intersect in our ever-changing world.
The COA Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has created an art exhibition in Philadelphia to promote language-learning and cultural exchange for Chinese individuals living in the United States. The foundation is supported by volunteers from various East Coast cities, including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. The core members of the foundation come from prestigious universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Temple University, and Drexel University.
