Cao Fei’s first major solo exhibition in Australia, My City Is Yours, has transformed the Art Gallery of New South Wales into a vibrant cityscape. The Guangzhou-born artist, known for her exploration of China’s technological and social transformations, presents key works from her 20-year career.
Cao Fei: My City Is Yours Exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Introduction
Exhibition Concept
Cao Fei was adamant that her exhibition would not be a traditional “low-lit in a white square box” endeavour. Instead, she wanted to create an immersive experience that reflects her personality and experience. Gallery walls have been forsaken for scaffolding, with music and sound effects from her various installations bleeding into each other, competing for the viewer’s attention.
Key Works
The exhibition features key works from Cao Fei’s 20-year career, spanning film, photography, metaverse experiments, and large-scale interactive installations. Some of the notable works include:
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Hongxia Foyer: A recreation of the foyer of the now-demolished Hongxia Theatre in Beijing, which Cao rented as her studio space for six years.
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Goodbye, Marigold!: A recreation of part of the grand dining room of the Marigold, a much-loved Chinatown restaurant that closed during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
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Golden Wattle: A shrine-like corner dedicated to Cao Fei’s sister, Cao Xiaoyun, who was also an artist and a longtime resident of Sydney until her death in 2022.
Inspiration
Cao Fei’s work is influenced by her childhood growing up in Guangzhou, where she was exposed to music-video culture, Hollywood movies, and western television programs. She has written about how these media were an “explosive cultural stimulus” for her generation in China.
Artist Statement
“I want my exhibition to reflect my personality and experience,” Cao Fei told Guardian Australia. “In my city there is always lots of construction, a lot of demolition and rebuilding. This is my material.”
Exhibition Details
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Location: Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW)
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Dates: Until 13 April 2025
Related Works
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Nova: A sci-fi tale about a computer scientist whose son gets trapped in cyberspace after an experiment goes horribly wrong.
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Hip Hop Sydney: A video featuring over 60 Chinese Sydneysiders dancing to the music of the Korean-Australian musicians 1300.
Cao Fei’s first major solo exhibition in Australia, My City Is Yours, has transformed the Art Gallery of New South Wales into a vibrant cityscape. The Guangzhou-born artist, known for her exploration of China’s technological and social transformations, presents key works from her 20-year career.
Exhibition Structure
Featured Installations
- Nova: A sci-fi film about a computer scientist whose son gets trapped in cyberspace after an experiment goes wrong. The installation features a screen playing the film, with sand cascading from it to transform the auditorium floor into a beach.
Artist’s Background
Tribute to Sister
The exhibition includes a shrine-like corner dedicated to Cao Fei’s sister, Cao Xiaoyun, an artist who passed away at the age of 50 in 2022. The installation features archival material, family photographs, and artworks painted by Xiaoyun.
Artist’s Vision
Cao Fei wants her exhibition to reflect her personality and experience. She believes that the constant construction, demolition, and rebuilding in her city are her material. This is evident in the exhibition’s structure and content, which blend technology, art, and culture to create an immersive experience.
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Title: Cao Fei: My City Is Yours 曹斐: 欢迎登陆
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Artist: Cao Fei, Guangzhou-born artist known for exploring China’s technological and social transformations
Related Links
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Art Review’s Power 100 list: Cao Fei was described as “a leading figure in envisioning our metaverse-tinged future.”
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Cao Fei’s website: Learn more about the artist and her work.
