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A Transformative Exploration:
Art as a Vehicle for Enlightenment

Stage 1 (1996-2002): Reclaiming Identity and Agency Through the Feminine Lens
Stage 2 (2002-2009): Exploring the Psyche Through an Alter Ego
Stage 3 (2010-2018): Spirituality, Transcendence and Abstraction

Curatorial Statement

Cui Xiuwen: A Transformative Exploration, Art as a Vehicle for Enlightenment examines the work of
Cui Xiuwen (1967–2018), a pioneering artist whose exploration of gender, identity, and the inner psyche
has greatly influenced contemporary Chinese art. Despite her significant contributions,
her legacy has remained largely overlooked in global art discourse, a gap this exhibition seeks to address.

Throughout her career, Cui engaged with a variety of media – painting, photography, video, installation,and
performance – to challenge societal norms and explore the complexities of the self. Her work reflects her
experience as a woman navigating the shifting cultural landscape of post-reform China, often
confronting taboos around femininity, sexuality, and spirituality. This exhibition revisits key moments in
Cui’s career, from her early video works exploring female identity in the modern world to her later
abstract paintings that integrate Buddhist philosophy with a personal quest for transcendence.

Cui’s art defies easy categorization, blending universal themes with a connection to her
cultural and historical context. By highlighting her voice, this exhibition aims to correct the
imbalance of recognition surrounding her career, inviting viewers to engage with and celebrate
her lasting impact on contemporary art, both in China and globally.