Human Revelations Art Exhibit
Join us for the opening of Human Revelations, a solo art exhibition by BFA junior, Bei Qi, on April 12th from 5 to 7 PM in Wilson Hall 1 & 2 floor. The evening kicks off with an introduction presentation by Qi to give more context to the work, followed by a keynote speech by Matthew McGrath, WashU Professor of Philosophy in Wilson 214. The exhibition will be on view from April 12-26th. Food and refreshments will be provided, and don't forget to check out the amazing tote bag merch available for purchase. This is a celebration you won't want to miss. We look forward to seeing you there!
Human Revelations is a body of work that Washington University BFA junior Bei Qi, has been working on in the past year of her art practice. In the series, Qi created ten wearable garments that investigates her desire to make connections with others and understand herself through the lens of modern Epistemology, a branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge. The wearable pieces feature colorful imagery of abstract painted forms that come to life on the body, creating a mesmerizing display of multiple faces, which intertwine to convey the complexities of how knowledge and perception can influence the human understanding of oneself and others. Qi's creations extend off the body in firm and prominent ways, transforming the wearer into a new creature.
In her art practice, Qi operates on her desire to make connections with others. She is fascinated by the versions of ourselves that we showcase to others, specifically the gradual shedding of social facades overtime, and she explores both how learning about oneself and our unique nuances and how coexisting in a world of distinct individuals can lead one in their search for meaning and attempt to realize self-fulfillment. These captivations prompt Qi to explore existing systems, both psychological and philosophical, that attempt to answer and discuss these inquiries.
The works in the show reveal Qi’s own revelations about what it means to be human. In reading various philosophical essays by Bonnie. M. Talbert, Matthew McGrath, and Jeremy Fantl that cover topics of knowledge: interpersonal understanding, memory preservation, and the influence of personal stakes, Qi investigates the ways that knowledge and perception can influence the human understanding of oneself and others through a variety of mediums that merge visual art, fashion, and performance.
Since creating the collection of wearables, Qi has worked with 20 models and herself in interaction with the garments to create photographs, video pieces, sound work, and large-scale paintings to contextualize the garments in an imagined world. These pieces create non-verbal abstract manners of communication, a fantastical world that Qi urges everyone to join: one with new rules, a performative spectacle in which aspects of the human soul are evoked.
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