Free Space
March 20-29
Rubenstein Arts Center
Gallery 235
Multimedia Installation
Free Space focuses on how a group of young cosplayers in China transform an abandoned commercial mall into a vibrant hub for anime enthusiasts. By asserting their presence into the physical spaces, these youth challenge and redefine conventional urban structures through their shared interests and creative performances. However, this seemingly “free space” exists under the looming presence of state surveillance, where the right to self-expression remains precarious, constantly negotiated within systems of regulation and control. In this exhibition, Suanne experiments with multiple mobile devices (iPones and iPads) to represent the cosplayers’ interaction with the mall. She also integrates “Zoom” into this “free space,” critically examining the concept of “surveillance” within the contemporary Chinese context, and questioning how the dynamics of self-expression,visibility, state power, and control intersect across both digital and physical realms.
Artist Biography
As an artist and educator, Suanne Han’s art practice utilizes art as a medium to excavate self-narratives from the complexities of everyday life. Her work examines art’s potential as a tool for self-expression, memory, and connection, fostering alternative ways for individuals to engage with both personal and collective histories. Through interdisciplinary and participatory art forms, she seeks to transform traditional gallery spaces and reimagine the spectator-performer dynamic. Suanne is particularly interested in using art to explore how contemporary Chinese youth, shaped by the collective experience of the pandemic, are renegotiating their relationships with their immediate surroundings and the broader world.
Suanne is a Master of Fine Arts student in the Experimental and Documentary Arts program at Duke University and holds a BFA in Film Directing and Screenwriting from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, China.
