Three Xi'an artists will have their creations exhibited worldwide

Three Xi'an artists will have their creations exhibited in Cambodia, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore over the next 18 months.

Traveling is the theme of the exhibition that was conceptualized by Agnes Lim and Ernest Chan and aims at emphasizing how artists and their pieces can be packed up and moved around the world at minimum cost and hassle free. The exhibition began last year in Singapore and has been to Thailand and Malaysia, now bringing works from the three countries to China. Each stop sees pieces added to the collection and in Xi'an, artists Song Yue, Qi Yi and Su Danyu are participating. Three Shanghai-based artists will have their work added to the tour when the exhibition stops there.

"We all take journeys, some are physical journeys to a place, some emotional or spiritual. On these journeys we take a suitcase to carry our belongings. This exhibition is based on the concept of traveling and all of the works exhibited by the artists must fit into a suitcase," Chan explained.

The exhibition is being held at the Xi'an Textile City Art District Exhibition Center. The old textile-manufacturing factory was chosen as it complemented Chan's vision.

"We are looking at binaries – things that are opposite. Some people travel to find themselves, others to escape themselves; some travel for pleasure, others for work; some find fantasy in their travels, others reality. These binaries create a space to explore our ideas in art. The amazing exhibition space here, so industrial in its history and character, is holding small, fine pieces of art. The opposites work together creatively," Chan said.

The exhibition requires visitors to 'travel' from exhibit to exhibit, moving to see the work of each artist. In Xi'an the journey beings with local artist Su Danyu and her exquisite paintings that attempt to capture her journeys and transitions in life. Su Danyu usually works in oils, but these paintings are more delicate and speak of change and uncertainty.

Next on the journey is Qi Yi, who has created vibrant blue works for the exhibition, reminiscent of dreams and fragments of travel. His intense colors are exciting and pull the viewer closer to the art, so that the very small subtleties and flows within the work can be seen.

Tan Seow Wei from Singapore follows in the exhibition. Tan's work is contained in small booklets inside envelopes. Unlike other parts of the exhibition, this one encourages the touching, opening and feeling of the pieces. Each small booklet in Tan's basket contains pencil or pen and ink drawings expressing scenes from China, thoughts and ideas.

Thai artist, Supachai Satsara breaks the pattern with his installation. A tiny statue of the artist as a craftsman, beside a box of tools, in a full beam of light, expresses how each tool can create a better world and the work challenges viewers to join the artist in making the world a better place as they journey through life.