VSDesign Unveils "On the Critical Point: Wanderlust and Nostalgia in the New Age" at the Penn Museum

    PHILADELPHIA, PA, November 14, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A thought-provoking exhibition, "On the Critical Point: Wanderlust and Nostalgia in the New Age," opened at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (Penn Museum), offering audiences a unique perspective on humanity's evolving relationship with technology, identity, and existence. This immersive experience ran from November 3 to November 30 with the combination of the onsite venue at Penn Museum Chinese Rotunda, and an online immersive gallery. The exhibition featured 48 works by 57 artists from 8 countries, chosen from over 335 submissions, and explored how wanderlust and nostalgia interact with a world increasingly shaped by digital landscapes.

Organized by VSDesign in collaboration with ALT Alliance and DesignPhiladelphia, the exhibition brought together established and emerging voices, creating a compelling dialogue between themes of past and future. Adding to the exhibition's depth, VSDesign organized a series of interactive events, including voices of mastery, an opening ceremony, a roundtable discussion, and educational workshops to engage the public further.

"Art is a universal language that connects so many people together," said Khine Arthur, CEO of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, a key sponsor of the exhibition. "It is so heartwarming to see such talent gathered at the Penn Museum." The exhibition attracted a distinguished audience. Among the attendees were Zhenxiang Huang, Senior Advisor at ESI and former Senior Advisor at The World Bank; Na Wei, Founding Principal of WEI Architects and Associate Professor at Temple University; and Zhanyuan Chen, former Commissioner of the Mayor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. Their presence emphasized the exhibition's significance within both local and global communities, bringing together voices from architecture, academia, and international development to engage with the thought-provoking themes explored in the artworks.

The roundtable discussion delved into several key themes, including the significance of wanderlust and nostalgia, contrasting art market dynamics in China and the United States, and the journey of Chinese artists in the global art landscape. Panelists include Sheryl Oring, Chair of the Department of Art and Art History at Wayne State University; Dominic Terlizzi, Head of School at PI Art Center; Chenlin Cai, Former Commissioner at Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs; and Amazon Senior Visual Designer, Tong Wang. Together, these discussions fostered cross-cultural collaboration, addressing how art not only reflects but also transcends cultural boundaries and technological shifts.

The exhibition showcased a diverse collection, each piece offering a perspective on humanity's engagement with technology and culture. Notable artworks and featured artists included:
- Sheryl Oring; "I wish to say"
- Dominic Terlizzi; "Apples and Oranges" and "Teacher"
- Acritarchy(James Andrew Billingsley); "An Arrangement of Scattered Forms"
- Qin Zhao; "Intermittent Rain, Empty Sound, Spiritual Rain, Ascension"
- Yan Deng; "Fragile Yet Resilient Culture" and "A Circle That Is Never Seen in the Heart"
- Hongtao Sun; "Shuiyuntu Series" and " Nature's Tale Series"
- Chenlin Cai; "Daydream" and "Contemporary Landscape"
- Tong Wang; "Peach Blossom Spring", "The Growth of All Things" and "Nightmare in the Sea"
- Xianbin Huang; "Radiance", "Millennium Dialogue" and "Fairyland Kanas"
- Jennifer Zhuang; "The Most Beautiful Surface of the Earth" and "Spring Eyes of Yellowstone Park
- Gong Chen; "Water Drops on Peach Blossoms"
- Yiwei Lin; "Correlscape"
- Jiayuan Wang; "Ego Unknown"
- Jinrong Li; "The Apocalypse Variations"
- Shanyun Hu; "VirtuMetropolis"
- Mingze Gao & Azure Zheng; "Growth Ring"
- Shaoyang Chen; "States of In-Between"
- Wei Lin; "Co-Fusion" and "Empirical Growth"
- Yinghao Sun; "Devotion" and "Hidden Pain"

The exhibition presented additional works by artists from various backgrounds, adding to its richness and depth. Following is a complete list of all participating artists and their artworks, without particular ranking:
- Mengmeng Chen; "BotiBon"
- Yutong Deng; "Connection"
- Yeon Choe; "Unravel"
- Xueer Gao; "Misty rain, deep in the bamboo forest"
- Phoelix (Yiwen); "Perceptual Filters"
- Ruijing Sun & Cherry Qu; "Fabric Culture Village - A City for Childcare"
- Yinzhu Yao; "Aftermath in Tripoli"
- Yan Zeng; "Alice's AR In-Campus Journey" and "Ghost Broke The Shell"
- Jinda Zhong & Hui Jing; "TravelBot"
- Joice Cheung; "Dawn of Infinity"
- Hao Ding; "The Long Bright Night"
- Zhaoxiong Han ; "No Stop City 2024"
- Chenyu Huang; "Sunset over Koko Crater" and "Dusk Till Dawn"
- Sizhe Huang; "Drop Houses"
- Chanel Hwang; "Synthetic Abundance"
- JourMYZ Studio(Yichun Xu, Zihe Ye, Jingyu Zhang, Mingrui Jiang); "Lieux de mémoire - A Realm of Memory Reimagined"
- Zihan Li & Peiye Yang; "Fading Junctions"
- Huaqi Liu; "Clouds Series"
- Yiting Liu; "Universe, Earth, Man II"
- Tingting Luo; "Flow"
- Celine Seo; "Imagination"
- Jing Wang; "Pattern Leap"
- Minzhou Wang & Peijin Du; "CitiFix"
- Tong Wang & Xianglong Li; "A Home in the Void"
- Jackie Xu; "Pascal Navigating the Digital Divide"
- Xinru Yang; "Archive of Life"
- Zoe Zheng; "Cogida and Death"
- Kerui Zhou; "Untitled Series"

The exhibition is made possible by support from the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, Rodin 3D AI by DeemosTech, WA Art Museum, Inner Mongolia International Conference Exhibition Association, QM Dessert Lab, and the UPenn Chinese Students and Scholars Association. The Penn Family Center has also provided crucial support for the exhibition's educational programs.

Online Gallery Access
To access the online gallery, please visit: https://vsdsgn.com/gallery-entrance

Exhibition Curating Staff
Curating team: Dongxuan Tang, Jinyu Guo, Ziyang Guan, Dianyi Lin, Changfeng Luo, Jie Zhan, Wenxin Guo, Xiaoqi Zhang, Xiaoxi Wei, Yanchen Wu, Wa Na, Quanyi Li
Branding designer: Ye Chen
Social Media Marketing: Daya Gao
Online gallery designer: Tingting Luo, Hanzhen Zhao
Photographer: Shiyao Xu, Bowen Hou
Host： Joann Gu

About VSDesign
Collaborated with top brands, museums, universities and institutions, VSDesign is a global creative agency specializing in curating art exhibitions, developing visual identities, and producing dynamic cultural events. The team has expertly overseen this exhibition from concept development to execution, including branding, space design, and interactive public engagements.

Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://vsdsgn.com/

Written by: Brian Walker

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