On June 23, 2024, Li Tang Community and A Space presented the group exhibition “On Broadway Street” in Brooklyn, New York, featuring eight Chinese artists living in New York City. This exhibition, a collaborative effort between Li Tang and A Space, unfolds a unique narrative that highlights the vibrancy of the artists’ creative practices alongside their personal journeys in New York.

Li Tang Community was founded in April 2020 in New York, dedicated to amplifying the voices of Asian diaspora artists. A Space is an artist team rooted in New York and Beijing, providing a platform for young artists to showcase their creativity and contemporary artworks in recent years. Supported by Asian Art Contemporary, “On Broadway Street” integrates the significant contributions of Li Tang Community and A Space to artistic diversity, individuality, and creative practice, offering a stage for dialogue and exchange. The eight participating artists are Sunny Moxin Chen, Shiqing Chen, Sherly Fan, Cheng Gong, Alice Yutong Hua, Danyang Anna Song, Xingze Li, and Jingyi Wang, curated by Webson Ji.

“Broadway,” a well-known cultural symbol of New York, is a must-visit destination for tourists from around the world. Walking on Broadway Street easily brings to mind images of New York’s iconic theatre district, renowned for its dazzling lights and grand performances. However, this exhibition redefines Broadway, viewing it not only as a symbol of cultural influence but also as a common street scene weaving through the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Bronx. We are on Broadway to enjoy a great show; we are on Broadway to get another day’s groceries. The “On Broadway Street” group exhibition invites viewers into a dialogue about living in New York City, from young artists who have just graduated from art colleges to professional artists who have been living in the city for over ten years, through a series of artist panel discussions and media promotion.

Artist Sunny Moxin Chen is a Chinese multidisciplinary artist and educator who migrated to the U.S. in 2013 and currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Chen delves into the complexities of home, intimate relationships, and spiritual presence within physical spaces. Her exhibited work “The Sun” combines oil on canvas, spray paint, paint, and paper collage, blending abstract and figurative elements to create a multilayered visual experience. Artist Danyang Anna Song, originally from China, holds a bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University and an MFA in ceramics, along with a collegiate teaching in art & design certificate, from the Rhode Island School of Design. Song currently works as a faculty member and ceramic studio manager at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and her works have been exhibited in renowned institutions and galleries worldwide. Her exhibited works “A Drop of Positivity” and “Finding the Balance-1” explore the balance between traditional ceramic craftsmanship and modern ceramic techniques from both emotional and technical perspectives, visualizing intangible emotions and the human spiritual world.

Photographer Cheng Gong was born in Hunan, China. He graduated with a degree in environmental art design from Donghua University, Shanghai, a master’s degree in project management from Northeastern University, Boston, and a master’s degree in photography, video, and related media from the School of Visual Arts in New York. His exhibited work “Culinary Canvases – Stir-fried Pork with Pepper” combines Chinese food with self-painted oil painting backgrounds. Cheng uses the ingredients of a Chinese dish as elements, serving as catalysts for introspection and dialogue, encouraging viewers to explore the intricate interplay between personal identity and social dynamics. Artist Sherly Fan was born and raised in Wuhan, China. She holds a bachelor’s degree in textile and fashion design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an associate’s degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She received her MFA from Duke University in 2023. Her works engage in multidimensional storytelling and interactive installations. “CAN YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY (CYTTS)” is a multimedia interactive exhibition and an experimental short film featuring a collection of work focused on “Sherly” as an artistic character. This character embodies an imaginative childlike narrative style and nostalgic cute aesthetics to explore subjects including gender representation, generational confusion, and the exploration of self-identity.

Artist Xingze Li was born in Yan’an, China, and is a visual artist residing in Brooklyn. He holds a bachelor’s degree in oil painting from Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts and a master’s degree in painting from Pratt Institute. Li’s works combine photography and painting, evoking everyday experiences of the phenomenal world through the depiction of natural and artificial light effects. He captures fleeting light and shadows in space with his phone lens, transforming those emotional moments into image installations. Artist Alice Yutong Hua is an interdisciplinary artist with a B.A. in studio art, minoring in chemistry and music, from Colby College in Maine, and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. Hua’s works are based on personal visual recording, documenting memories, traces, and even the passage of time in her daily life. Collecting and replaying these records built up the initial motivation for Hua’s installation projects and paintings.

Artist Jingyi Wang is a New York-based visual artist specializing in oil painting. She received her BFA degree from China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2013 and her MFA degree from the New York Academy of Art in 2016. Her artworks focus on the relationship between nature and culture. Cacti-human beings reflect the biological and psychological aspects of life, approaching the subtle and intimate intersubjectivity of humanity. With these elements and colors, Jingyi Wang extends human bodies to the ground and mother nature, creating space for dialogue and collaboration between humans and nature. Shiqing Chen is a new media artist and designer based in Brooklyn. Her work and research primarily focus on using data as an entry point to explore cross-media storytelling and visual communication through changes in time. Her exhibited work “Temporary Space” consists of Pt.1 video and Pt.2 digital installation, summarizing her recent interest in themes such as urban life, time, and construction sites, exploring the relationship between “temporality” in urban systems and “permanent spaces.”

Webson Ji, creative director of Li Tang Community and curator of the exhibition, said, “Curating an exhibition that explores the creative ecology of artists is both interesting and thought-provoking for me. The unique visual languages of the eight artists’ works reflect their highly creative thinking and the different life choices they make living in New York City. They are at different career stages, yet each shines in their own way.” Vic Fu, one of the co-founders of A Space, highly praised the exhibition, “On Broadway Street is a captivating exhibition that profoundly showcases the unique creative perspectives and personal journeys of eight artists. It creates a vivid dialogue between diverse artistic expressions and cultural narratives. Each piece tells a story of the intersection of identity, life, and creation. This exhibition not only celebrates the diversity of art but also invites the audience to reflect on how to find their own place and sense of belonging in an ever-changing world. It bears witness to the creative spirit and cultural vitality of Chinese artists in New York, providing a rich and thought-provoking artistic experience that deeply resonates with our times.”

During the exhibition, Li Tang Community and A Space also provided opportunities for the eight artists to engage in artist talks, where they shared their views on topics such as life in New York, changes in perspectives over the past few years, and the influences of local communities. As artists playing leading roles in the industry living in New York, their insights and experiences continuously empower the active voices and creativity of the Asian art community. The exhibition runs from June 23 to July 13 and is open to the public for free.

(Text by Webson Ji, images courtesy of Li Tang Community and A Space)