yin xiuzhen exhibition at anna schwartz gallery, sydney

'portable city: melbourne', 2009 by yin xiuzhen
suitcase, used clothes, magnifying glass, map, sound, light
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery

chinese artist yin xiuzhen re uses old clothing and textiles to create intricate works
that examine the political, social, historical, environmental, and human constructs
that surround her.  one of her most famous works to date is the 'portable city'
series - cloth construction in suitcases of major cities.

for her current exhibition at anna schwartz gallery she has constructed three new
suitcase works; 'portable city: melbourne', 'portable city: jia yu guan'
and portable city: shenzen'.

'portable city: melbourne' is based on yin's experience of living in the city (for three
months). the suitcase includes buildings that make up the city centre such as
the national gallery of victoria, the eureka tower, federation square as well as
flinders st station.


'portable city: melbourne', 2009 by yin xiuzhen
suitcase, used clothes, magnifying glass, map, sound, light
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery


'portable city: jia yu guan', 2009 by yin xiuzhen
suitcase, used clothes, magnifying glass, map, sound, light
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery

'jia yu guan' is a very personal suitcase as the chinese silk road city is where her father
was forced to work during the 1970's when yin was a child.


'portable city: jia yu guan', 2009 by yin xiuzhen
suitcase, used clothes, magnifying glass, map, sound, light
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery


'portable city: shenzen', 2008 by yin xiuzhen
suitcase, used clothes, magnifying glass, map, sound, light
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery

the shenzhen suitcase reflects yin’s interest in broader social and environmental issues.
it is a portrait of a city representative of the new industrialised china. shenzhen, once a
small fishing village, is now a huge and growing mega-city, created over the last thirty years.


yin xiuzhen - installation view
anna schwartz gallery sydney, 2009
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery

the exhibition will be on view until march 26th, 2009.

see yin xiuzhen's work from the chinese pavillion at the venice art biennale 2007


yin xiuzhen - installation view
anna schwartz gallery sydney, 2009
courtesy the artist & anna schwartz gallery