Auspicious Eight

Tøn is pleased to present Auspicious Eight : Wood Dragon at our gallery space in 25a Temple Lane South, Temple Bar, from February 3. An open invitation celebration will occur on February 8 from 6 to 8pm, coinciding with Lunar New Year festivities. Guest speakers Dr. Jye O'Sullivan, assistant lecturer of Visual Culture at NCAD, and Yifeng Wei, curator and PhD candidate of Visual Culture at NCAD, will open this group show of eight local artists, showcasing creative talent in a wide range of mediums. The works of Tra My Nguyen Hoang, Ploypailin Jitphulphon, Jialin Long, Jinny Ly, Kiki Na, Duc Pham, Van Tran and Yuwen Xing offer a journey through a captivating fusion of narratives and experiences.

Jinny Ly has carefully curated a grouping of works by artists who are concerned with varied perspectives on the multicultural experience and the importance of cultural exchange. The exhibition covers themes of identity, immigration, social conditioning, and the importance of free expression.

The value of cultural exchange, all there is to gain from learning about each other as individuals and communities, ties the show together in a synergy of traditional and future-facing ideals. As we consider the effect of culture on the individual, we begin to recognize the fluidity of such boundary lines. While identities and border lines are an essential element of life, creating rich color, contrast, and structure in our communities and self-concepts, they are not binding or fixed. Boundaries and identities are fluid, changing shape and meaning through time and for each individual. Crucially, the more we learn about each other's differences, the more we tend to realize how similar and connected we really are.