Featuring Artists: Ann Liu, Christopher Cosnowski, Li Nianxin, Hou Jianan, Mary Henderson, Tian Yuanyuan, and Wang Weijue
Opening Reception: February 15th, 2025
Exhibition Dates: February 15th – March 28th, 2025
Irvine, California — Unveil Gallery is pleased to present Daydream, an exhibition featuring seven contemporary artists, Ann Liu, Christopher Cosnowski, Li Nianxin, Hou Jianan, Mary Henderson, Tian Yuanyuan, and Wang Weijue. Inspired by the timeless Chinese literary work 牡丹亭 (The Peony Pavilion), Daydream presents an exhibition that delves into the intersection of personal and collective illusions, societal pressures, and consumerism in today’s world. The exhibition draws on themes of escapism and the ways in which dreams and daydreams offer temporary relief from the stresses of modern life. Through a multidisciplinary approach, Daydream explores the complex emotional landscapes of longing, identity, and the profound impact of societal constructs on the individual.
The core of this exhibition revolves around the tension between illusion and reality—how the dreamlike or fantastical provides a temporary escape from the overwhelming forces of the real world. In the context of contemporary pressures, these illusions often manifest through consumerism, the commodification of beauty, and identity struggles. Artists featured in Daydream challenge these illusions, questioning their foundations and critiquing the ways in which society constructs and glorifies false ideals. Through their art, they expose the often hidden violence beneath the surface of these cultural myths.
Ann Liu engages with themes of cultural hybridity, femininity, and self-exploration in her vivid figurative paintings. Liu’s work reflects on the tensions between Chinese traditional values and the American Dream, questioning the effects of cultural homogenization in the digital age. In Daydream, Liu's exploration of ancient Chinese culture through a contemporary lens offers a vision of resistance against the erosion of cultural identity. Her work romanticizes the complexity of living as a woman navigating both personal and societal expectations, offering a visual meditation on femininity, pleasure, and healing.
Mary Henderson’s paintings offer a nuanced portrayal of contemporary social dynamics, exploring themes of class, privilege, and the desire for escape. Her practice is rooted in found images from the internet, which she transforms into hyper-realistic depictions of everyday life. Her works capture unguarded moments of connection and disconnection in public spaces, revealing the complex undercurrents of personal and collective identity. In Daydream, Henderson’s art serves as a mirror to the ways in which people navigate the tensions between public personas and private desires, reflecting on the search for fulfillment in an increasingly fragmented society
Li Nianxin, currently based in New York, explores themes of familial and societal roles through her colorful abstract works. Influenced by her upbringing and personal reflections on gender and societal expectations, Li’s art uses bold shapes and vibrant hues to represent the emotional disconnections and attachments within family structures. Her practice is grounded in the continuous exploration of boundaries, seeking to interpret intimate moments through the lens of color. Li’s works ask the viewer to reconsider the emotional landscapes formed by cultural and familial norms, providing a space for reflection on personal identity and relationships.
Hou Jianan is an artist whose work interrogates the intersection of digital culture, consumerism, and human experience. Known for his innovative use of layered acrylics, Hou creates fluid, immersive landscapes that blur the lines between the physical and the virtual. His practice reflects a deep exploration of identity, alienation, and the impact of media and social networks on contemporary life. Through his dynamic and often surreal compositions, Hou invites viewers to reflect on the pervasive nature of image culture and its role in shaping perception and reality.
Tian Yuanyuan’s new series (A Stroll Through the Garden) directly engages with the themes of Daydream. Through her vibrant and experimental oil paintings, Tian creates a space for viewers to reflect on the ephemeral nature of beauty, desire, and fleeting moments of personal fulfillment. Her works merge the fantastical and the real, exploring how the garden—a traditional symbol of beauty and tranquility—becomes a site of both longing and disillusionment. Tian’s paintings invite the viewer to consider the delicate balance between reality and illusion, offering a poignant commentary on the complexities of human experience
Christopher Cosnowski is a master of hyper-realism, using his still-life paintings to comment on consumerism, materialism, and the icons of modern society. His works elevate everyday objects—plastic toys, trophies, and other mass-produced items—transforming them into symbols of societal values, achievement, and the pursuit of perfection. In doing so, Cosnowski’s art critiques the glorification of consumer goods and the hollow nature of modern success, prompting us to reflect on the illusions we construct around material wealth and social status.
Wang Weijue’s works offer strikingly realistic depictions of everyday objects, made from needle-felted wool, that delve into the complexity of sleep, dreams, and the human body’s relationship to societal beauty standards. While her earlier works may have been perceived as exploring themes of cosmetic surgery, her latest creations focus more deeply on the commodification of the body and the tension between internal and external perceptions of beauty. Through these works, Wang invites viewers to reflect on the pressures placed on individuals to conform to societal ideals, particularly the unattainable standards of beauty often imposed upon women.
Daydream challenges viewers to reconsider the ways in which illusions shape our lives and the way we present ourselves to the world. Through the lens of contemporary art, the exhibition provides a critical commentary on the forces of consumerism, identity, and societal expectation, urging us to reflect on how we navigate these complexities in our daily lives.
Daydream will be on view at Unveil Gallery from February 15th through March 28th and is open to the public.