Jingwen Yao is an artist who addresses environmental and social issues through her art
She is based in Berlin, Germany since 2020
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Nord Buzzpost
Nord Buzzpost is a site-specific installation created for Park am Nordbahnhof in Berlin. Made from pine wood, used bamboo bowls, and a reclaimed vinyl record, the work functions both as a sculptural object and a bee hotel.
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Tracing Origins
The project explores the native roots of common vegetables. Through mixed media, the artwork uncovers the origin and history of various vegetables, offering insight into their journey from native lands to modern diets.
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Ephemera of Elsewhere
A series of small paintings based on childhood memories of growing up in 1990s Beijing, a city caught between tradition and transformation.
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Her Room
Her Room is about the experiences of many women who dedicated thier lives to their families, immersing themselves in hosehold chores while setting aside their own dreams and aspirations.
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Stories of Names
“Stories of Names” delves into the evolving names and identities of five women artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. Shaped by migration, cultural shifts, and life experiences, their names transform - marking chapters of their journeys.
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A Week of Grandpa's Life
Yao recorded a week in her grandpa’s life, showing how his days have gradually settled into a routine of eight activities at the age of 92 years old.
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Paths of Souls
Crafted from fallen cemetery leaves, this land art unveils nature's unseen connections, embodying the cycles of life, decay, and renewal, and bridging the physical and spiritual to evoke the unity of all existence.
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Unseen, Unheard, Unfaltering
An interdisciplinary project exploring untold narratives of marginalized lives by integrating stories of homeless individuals in Berlin with the overlooked weeds in her vegetable garden.
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Silent Echoes
The series of paintings tells the intertwined story of disappearing pollinators and endangered food, reflecting on the interconnected future of human beings and the ecosystem around us.
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Mending Wings
“Mending Wings” is a series of portrait paintings and needlework that focuses on the most endangered pollinators including bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.
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Nature Reclaiming
Looking at our day-to-day objects, how many of them are truly necessary? Where would they be when the owners - we humans are gone? This series of paintings reflects on overconsumption and calls attention to the pressing climate crisis.
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Her Gaze
The series of paintings probe the differences between the male gaze and the female gaze. While the male gaze still dominates throughout art history and the present media, she aims to incorporate authentic narratives from the female perspective.
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Insignificant Stories
"Insignificant Stories" is a painting series that delves into the personal journey of Jingwen Yao’s life, capturing her memories and all those seemingly insignificant stories that have shaped who she is.
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Ecovillage Life
During her stay in an eco-village in Sweden, Yao created a series of paintings that depict the daily life of environmental activists and residents. Her artwork aims to record and promote their sustainable lifestyle and visions of an alternative green future.
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Make Gardens Not War
The series was created during Yao’s stay at an ecovillage in Sweden, where she practiced gardening in her daily life. A military base is located nearby and shooting exercises were often carried out. Thus, the idea was born.
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Black and White Memories
The drawings were inspired by traditional oriental patterns and myths. The fine lines serve as a medium that connects Yao’s memories from the East and her present in the West.