Organized and presented by Unbound Visual Arts and the artist Yolanda He Yang
UVA’s Arthaus Gallery
43 N. Beacon St., Allston, MA 02134
May 19 – June 17, 2023
Opening Reception with Musician Denver Nuckolls:
May 20, 2023, 4-5:30pm
Musical Performance and Meditation Program:
June 7, 2023, 6-7pm, with Musician Denver Nuckolls, Facilitator of Meditation Erin Shea Hogan, Curated by Maya Rubio
Artist Statement:
“Silent Symphony – A Tribute to Tears” is a contemplative journey that explores the deeply personal and yet universally relatable experience of shedding tears. In crafting my pieces, I seek to evoke a sense of the ethereal through the use of varied media such as shards, lights, shadows, walls, plaster, and vestiges. I utilize sensations and metaphors within each entity we take for granted as the medium, intending to create a visceral and poetic experience. My artistic endeavors reflect my innermost being while also providing commentary on global issues of insecurity and vulnerability. The works in this collection highlight the delicate balance between personal and communal experiences of tears and speak to the fragility of our emotions and the importance of caring for both ourselves and others. With pieces such as “Surface 1, 2” and “A Field of Disappearing Tears,” I have taken direct physical contact with the walls of institutions to emphasize the sensation of insecurity that can arise within our bodies when we are confronted with institutional power structures. Each piece in the collection explores the intricate layers of emotion that accompany tears, encompassing the range from joy to pain, release to healing. My aspiration for “Silent Symphony – A Tribute to Tears” is to provide a space for reflection and contemplation, to remind us of the power of vulnerability, and the importance of holding space for our emotions. The exhibition invites the viewer to join me in celebrating our shared humanity and the beauty that resides within our tears.
Artist’s Biography:
Yolanda He Yang is a Boston-based artist whose practice encompasses both personal studio work and public art. Through her explorations in body movement performance and three-dimensional works, Yolanda delves into the hidden layers of emotional experience, offering poetic presentations that invite the viewer to experience space beyond its surface appearance – the total rupture of the boundaries imposed between inside and outside, space and time. Drawing from her extensive background in meditation practice, Yolanda’s studio work focuses on exposing the factual realities of change that often go unnoticed. Her pieces often convey a mournful beauty, speaking to the process of healing and the embrace of vulnerabilities. Using humble everyday materials, she skillfully reframes details and moments of everyday experience, offering new perspectives and insights. In her public art work, Yolanda seeks to engage communities through civic projects. By responding to site conditions and the realities of our contemporary world, she creates urban artwork installations that explore concepts of beauty, equity, and communication. Her practice aims to nurture sensibilities of feelings, awakening people’s awareness of interconnectedness. Examples of her recent public artwork include Winter Optics – Sculptures with Lights at The Rose Kennedy Greenway recommended by Boston Globe Tickets, Blank Paper – Public Art Demonstration in Responding to Censorship in China covered by WBUR and The Harvard Crimson, and Napalm Test #1, which was featured on The Harvard Crimson. Yolanda is also the initiator and caretaker of “Behind VA Shadows” – a community-based project that highlights working artists in art museums. Through her multifaceted practice, Yolanda continues to push boundaries and explore new ways of engaging with art and the world around us.