As We Journey Through Life
Exhibition Details
Date: 25 February– 8 May 2019
Venue: Building EA.G.03, Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture Gallery, Parramatta South Campus, Western Sydney University, Corner of James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road, Rydalmere
Gallery Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 10.00am – 3.00pm, Friday 11.00am - 3.00pm
Contact: Lindsay Liu, (02) 9685 9943
Exhibition Opening Event
Date: 28 March 2019
Time: 5.00pm - 5.30pm
Venue: Foyer of Building EA, Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture, Parramatta South Campus, Western Sydney University, Corner of James Ruse Drive and Victoria Road, Rydalmere
Opened by Professor James Arvanitakis, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Graduate Studies), Western Sydney University.
As we journey through life, from childhood to young adults and beyond, we become increasingly aware of the reality that there are many moments in which we are not prepared for the challenges that confront us.
Sometimes these moments are of personal difficulties or perhaps tragedy: the failure for a career to materialise the way we desire or, even more confronting, the death of a friend or loved one. Other times, there is a more global nature to this realisation: that our very actions contribute to anthropocentric climate change that threatens our very planet, large-scale pollution or possibly mass displacement of people in vulnerable communities. While contributing to such phenomenon, as individuals, we often feel helpless to stop such events from occurring no matter how personally inspired we are to act.
The result is a growing gap between the realities of adulthood and the childhood enchantment of the world we feel and the sense of endless possibilities for the future we are encouraged to pursue by our parents and teachers.
It is in such moments that we often look for meaning in our lives: in a world characterised by the promises of youth but compromised by the toils and tribulations of adulthood, we often wonder what is the point.
It is these moments that have often been the focus of philosophers and artists.
For philosophers, such as the existentialist Soren Kierkegaard, our life is one in which we search for authenticity in or world that disorientates and confuses us – a world that often feels meaningless and absurd. For Kierkegaard, this is no easy journey, for it is one filled with fear and anxiety:
“Standing on a cliff, a sense of disorientation and confusion cloud you. Not only are you afraid of falling, you also fear succumbing to the impulse of throwing yourself off. Nothing is holding you back. Dread, anxiety and anguish rise to the surface.” (Kierkegaard, S. (1957) The Concept of Dread, Princeton University Press)
These moments have also been the focus of artists such as Evdard Much most notable in the series of artworks known as The Scream (first exhibited in 1893). The works show a lonely figure with a painful and agonised expression holding his head – capturing a sense of disorientation, fear and isolation.
Bingbing Chen’s latest exhibition captures this feeling but with a sense of subtleness reflective of her own personal philosophy – one reflective of her heritage.
One notable example in Chen’s exhibition is the image of the eggshell. The metaphor of the egg is a powerful one. We cannot think of eggshells as offering protection – they must be cushioned and carefully handled – but also protect the most cherished of contents.
While Chen sees our lives in this way, it is childhood that is her focus here. Children, like eggs, are cushioned but to survive, we must realise that as we grow that our world is often hostile, challenging and occasionally threatening. Despite the fragility of our youth, we must grow to be resilient and tenacious if we are to confront the many challenging elements of life.
This creates a complex relationship between parents and their children – with parents wanting to shield their children from the challenges of life to ensure they enjoy their years of play – while also preparing them for the trials ahead. Despite the countless books on parenting, each parent and child’s journey is an individual one – even within the same family.
Within this frame, Chen’s work is simultaneously optimistic and concerned.
Chen recognises that we all grow up with dreams and ambitions – something that she presents in her growing plants from seedlings and mountain peaks – but she also reminds us that many of these do not materialise. When these dreams do not materialise, we risk being captured by what could have been or become bitter and regretful, like disfigured trees.
But Chen’s optimism also comes through as she brings to our attention that a life of meaning often grows out of the soil of uncertainty. We will face challenges but our hearts and spirits will bloom when we remain determined and achieve what we desire despite the many setbacks.
In life’s journey, the philosopher and the artist have always danced an intimate routine – reminding us of the challenges of meaning and authenticity in a chaotic world. Chen joins this routine and takes us on a journey of fragility, hope and optimism.
Professor James Arvanitakis
Institute for Culture and Society
Western Sydney University
Artist Biography
1980 Born in Fujian Province, China
2003 Graduated from Fujian Normal University, China, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art (oil painting)
2005 Settled down in Sydney
2005 Graduated from Shillington College, Sydney, majoring in Graphic Design
2005-2012 Worked as a freelance visual designer for various media companies in Sydney
2012 Established Bingbing Art Studio in Sydney
2013 Solo Exhibition “Bingbing’s World” at Xiamen Townhall Art Gallery, China
2014 Participated in Chippendale New World Art Prize Group Exhibition, Sydney
2014 Participated in and winning a prize at City of Ryde International Women’s Art Prize and Exhibition, Sydney
2016 Solo Exhibition “Paradise of Illusory Hope” at Fuzhou 1H Art Space
2017 Solo Exhibition “Paradise of Illusory Pleasure” at Fujian Normal University
2018 Curator & Exhibiting Artist of “Dazzling Arts Australia Group Exhibition”, Sydney
2018 Participated in “The Three Perfections” exhibition at the Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture, Western Sydney University
2018 Appointed Art Director of Australia Fujian Association
