Under the Skin
Curated by Yvetta Zheng
Artists: Youvi Chow, Kaley Flowers, Jess Xiaoyi Han, Yoorim Ko, Zengyuan Ma, Manuel Mata
January 22–February 5, 2025
CP Projects Space at the School of Visual Arts is pleased to present Under the Skin curated by MA Curatorial Practice student Yvetta Zheng. Surfaces, whether physical, social, or cultural, serve as both a medium of visibility and a veil that can obscure deeper meanings, while also acting as an invitation to a different realm. Under the Skin explores the interplay between surface and essence. It invites viewers to look through the obvious to engage with the radiant, unspoken qualities that define the essence of what they observe, whether it’s a painting, an object, a person, or a life event.
Jess Xiaoyi Han’s paintings, Goddess (2023) and Vitamin C (2022), evoke dream-like subconscious streams, capturing the energy that flows between individuals and their inner worlds. Yoorim Ko’s work Me, In (2024) delves into the concept of aura and the inner spirit, presenting a visual exploration of individuality's intangible essence. Zengyuan Ma’s cocoon silk sculpture Untitled (2024) embodies delicate transformation, reflecting the fragility and resilience of existence while delving into the pain and struggles of the Asian female experience. Kaley Flowers’ wall-mounted resin and stone sculpture Oval/Ego (2025) examines ego, illustrating how one’s authentic self becomes fractured when scrutinized from external, critical perspectives. Youvi Chow’s recent works celebrate female inner strength, using fire and the color red as potent symbols of passion and empowerment. Manuel Mata’s site-specific installation Mouse (2024), invites active viewer participation, challenging the convention of passive interaction with art and emphasizing the power of shared engagement.
In a world of sensory overload, dominated by both carefully curated visuals and the sheer deluge of information, where appearances are often mediated and surveillance culture thrives, this exhibition invites us to reconsider what can emerge when authenticity and deeper insights are offered. Touching on abstract, spiritual, and feminist-themed paintings and sculptures, Under the Skin reflects on how works that seek aesthetic beauty and profound introspection can transcend the allure of mere appearance, revealing essence when external layers are stripped away. This perspective challenges viewers to slow down, to look thoughtfully and find the ideas, emotions, and complexities that lie beneath the veneer of things, as tantalizing and pleasurable as that is. By doing so, surfaces are transformed into gateways, entry points that lead us to deeper insights of truth, resilience, and transformation.