Lure : Chinese-American Contemporary Artist Beili Liu Explores the Ties that Bind Lovers in a Dramatic, Large-scale Installation May 9, 2008

Presented by the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco in Partnership with Red Clay Art Lovers Club and in Association with the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center as part of the 2008 San Francisco International Arts Festival

The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco kicks off its new Xin Rui (Fresh and Sharp) exhibition series featuring the work of prominent, emerging Chinese-American contemporary artists with Lure, a dramatic installation by Michigan-based artist Beili Liu. In her first Bay Area solo showing, Liu explores the Chinese myth of the invisible Red Thread that binds lovers by the ankle from birth. With each passing day, the thread pulls them closer until at last they find each other, overcoming distance and social and cultural divides. The installation makes use of hundreds of paired coils of red thread delicately suspended in the gallery. Subtle air currents set the red disks swaying and turning slowly like water lilies as the loose strands of thread on the floor drift and become entangled.

Beili Liu is known for her uncanny ability to transform simple, everyday materials in curious ways that are evocative of both her Chinese heritage and her experience in the United States. Her elegant installations and sculptural work explore transience, fragility and the passing of time. Lius work has been called poetic by Jay Xu, Director of the Asian Art Museum and a must see by influential contemporary artist Flo Oy Wong.

WHAT:
Lure A large-scale art installation by Chinese-American contemporary artist Beili Liu

WHEN:
Exhibition: May 9 July 5, 2008
Opening Reception: Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m.

GALLERY HOURS:
Tuesdays-Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE:
Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny St., 3rd Floor (inside the Hilton Hotel)

ADMISSION:
FREE

INFORMATION:
415-986-1822 or www.c-c-c.org
E-mail: [email protected]

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of nina911.