Sara Riel is exhibiting new works at the Chinese European Art Center (CEAC) Xiamen, under the title Made in China, referring to the fact that she travelled to China and made unique items out of mass-produced materials. The exhibition consists of installations, paintings, a photograph and 700 handmade invitation cards (multiples) that were scattered around the globe.

This exhibition is an investigation of Riel’s perception of a new surrounding and situation, and of the internal, feelings in these moments of being out of place. Searching for influences from the external world, exploring unfamiliar places without expectation, excitingly turning around corners and constantly trusting in the unknown. Finding herself isolated and alienated in the most populated country in the world, due to language difficulties, the situation also forced her to look within and face the many mental stages of the mind.

Another huge influence came from learning Tai Chi and the teachings of her master Yang, about the theories surrounding internal martial art. The importance of flow and finding balance everywhere. Understanding concept such as there is black in white and white in black, there is yin in the yang and yang in the yin. Another thought is to be a rope not a stick, the stick can break but the rope will swing.

These artworks are visual fractions, focusing on arousing a feeling of the vanishing moment or of the thought. They are meant to stimulate the viewers’ imagination rather than to present the obvious. Compared to literature or music, these works are more like poems rather than novels, soundscapes rather than songs.

Gallery