Paris Koh Fine Arts (201 Bridge Plaza North, Suite 1, Fort Lee, NJ) is delighted to present the group exhibition Countering the Feminine Mystique: Gao Yuan, Stephanie Stokes, Xin Song, Sachigusa Yasuda, Sunhee Yoon, co-curated by Midori Yoshimoto, Heejung Kim, and Paris Suechung Koh. The exhibition will run from December 4 to 29, 2024, with an opening reception on Thursday, December 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

 

This exhibition explores the works of distinguished women artists selected by three curators, inviting viewers to reflect on how patriarchal cultures have constructed the images and roles of women across different societies. Through a variety of artistic approaches, the exhibition counters various preconceived notions of femininity, including motherhood, which had been problematized by Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique (1963), and continue to pressure and constrict women today. By intertwining traditional and contemporary perspectives, the featured artists provide thought-provoking insights into the multifaceted nature of femininity in the present tense.

 

Xin Song, a Beijing-born artist, merges traditional Chinese paper-cutting with contemporary themes in Adam and Eve Updated (2015), a powerful mixed-media collage. Using black-and-white photos of comfort women and sexualized images of modern women from the porn industry, the piece creates life-sized male and female figures. The work critiques the shifting societal roles of women, juxtaposing historical exploitation with modern commodification, and explores themes of gender, power, and representation. Song’s art, incorporating photography, magazines, Mylar, and rice paper, has been exhibited internationally, including at the Louvre, Venice Biennale, and National Art Museum of China, with a permanent installation at Brooklyn’s Bay Parkway Station.

 

Sachigusa Yasuda is a New York-based visual artist born and raised in Japan. She received an MFA in Social Practice from Queens College in 2023 and an MFA in Painting from Tokyo University of Arts. She explores the individual human value beyond societal norms of women. She participated in various projects and exhibitions internationally, including Upcycle Uplift in 2021-2022, Memories of Life with the Fukushima Museum in 2013-2018, the California Museum of Photography, Art Chicago, and ISCP. Her articles appeared in publications such as Hyper allergic, Frieze, Art in America, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, and the Los Angeles Times.

 

Gao Yuan, a Taiwan-born multidisciplinary artist based in New York City, presents Twelve Moons, a photography series exploring motherhood through the lens of the Chinese zodiac and inspired by Renaissance art, particularly Raphael’s Madonna and Child. Featuring 12 Chinese mothers and infants from rural villages, the series uses digitally composited backdrops and symbolic imagery to juxtapose tradition and modernity, reflecting China’s evolving society. Educated at Nihon Academy of Fine Art and the New York Film Academy, Gao bridges Eastern and Western cultural elements in her work. Her art has been exhibited globally, including at the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Art, Museo Marino Marini, and Sotheby’s Hong Kong auctions.

 

Stephanie Stokes, born in Illinois, presents The Female Identity (Photoshop Digital Print, 48 x 24 in., 2024), examining the societal objectification of women. Reflecting on how women have been historically reduced to objects of pleasure or utility, Stokes critiques these dehumanizing perspectives and their persistence in modern culture. Her work challenges these harmful narratives, encouraging reflection and dialogue about identity and empowerment. Stokes earned a BA in Art History from Rutgers University, worked as a freelance artist, and is currently pursuing a degree in Visual Design at Raritan Valley Community College.

 

Sunhee Yoon, an environmental installation artist and art educator, explores themes of women’s marginalization in patriarchal societies through her evocative sculptures and figures. Using materials such as aluminum wire, pipe cleaners, felt, and yarn, Yoon's work, including her notable piece Inner Room, conveys a delicate yet powerful narrative, celebrating women's creativity, love, and nurturing abilities. Born in Seoul, Korea, Yoon now resides and works in New Jersey. She holds an MFA from Pratt Institute and currently teaches at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Manhattanville College. Her work has been showcased in solo and group exhibitions across the United States, Korea, and Germany, earning her recognition for her poignant artistic vision.

 

 

Paris Koh Fine Arts: 201 Bridge Plaza North, Suite 1, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Pariskohfinearts.com     201 724 7077     pariskohfinearts@gmail.com

Gallery Hours: Wed - Sat 11-6    Sun - Tue; by appointment only