TX Huaihai marks 4th anniversary with exhibition on youth identity

TX Huaihai, a thriving hub for youthful energy on Shanghai's Huaihai Road, is celebrating its four-year anniversary with an exhibition that delves into the complexities of youth identity in a globalized world.

Curated by Zhang Yuzhuo, "52Hz" brings together 10 young artists whose works explore the nuances of cultural dislocation, emotional fragmentation, and the search for connection.

Inspired by the story of Alice, a whale whose song at 52Hz falls outside the hearing range of its peers, the exhibition uses the metaphor of unheard voices to address the isolation and resonance experienced by today's youth.

With each artist reflecting their personal experience of navigating multiple cultural and social landscapes, the exhibition reveals how dissonant voices can come together to form a broader, collective narrative of China's young generation.

The exhibition is divided into three chapters: "Wander," where artists explore the experience of moving between cultures and shifting identities through various media; "Dissonance," which delves into the internal conflicts of youth facing societal pressures and the fragmentation of self; and "Resonance," where the artists highlight the potential for connection, seeking solidarity and understanding despite cultural and personal divides.

Together, these works reflect the complex journey of youth identity, from fragmentation to the search for harmony.

Artists Miko Sheng and Ying Jingjing collaborate to create an interactive sound and visual installation that draws inspiration from the authentic sounds of nature, including whale songs, rain, and thunder. Sheng projects imagery onto Ying's sculptural piece "Hamlet's Bouquet," and the surrounding exhibition space. Together, their works form a symbiotic dialogue in a darkened environment, blending visual and auditory elements.

The installation responds to the story of 52Hz, the frequency of a whale's song that remains unheard by others of its kind, often interpreted as a symbol of loneliness and isolation.

Through this piece, the artists aim to offer a more direct experience of the world's loneliest sound – 52Hz – and invite viewers to engage with this rare form of solitude. The sounds of viewers' footsteps and voices will also influence the transmission and reception of the installation's messages, creating a dynamic, participatory experience.

In the "Cave" series, artist Gao Yutao explores the relationship between the macro and micro worlds. He suggests that both the vast and the minuscule can coexist in equal importance, occupying the same space in our imagination.

His photographs are based on scans of tiny fragments and particles from various minerals, which are then enlarged on a computer screen to reveal details invisible to the naked eye. These magnified images expose a hidden world, showcasing surprising beauty in its grand scale.

The new images, created through scanning, make semi-precious stones the focal point of the artwork. The backdrop, filled with large and small mineral fragments, evokes a sense of deep space, resembling the universe. The black background and shattered minerals create a feeling of profound depth, aligning with the Eastern philosophy of "a seed holding a mountain," reflecting the connection between the macro and micro worlds.

In the installation "Fire and Body," Cao Taiping uses his own skeletal data as the basis for the piece. By 3D printing his ribcage, he creates a life-like representation of his bones, while also transforming the flame symbol commonly seen on social media into a three-dimensional sculpture.

These two seemingly unrelated elements – his body and the digital icon – come together to form a unique expression of self-exploration, existence, and mystery.

If you go

Date: Through January 12

Address: 523 Huaihai Rd M. 淮海中路523号

Admission: Free