Masculinity: Invalid Traits

Exhibition Dates

Private View
Friday 24 June 5 – 9 pm

Show
Saturday 25 June  – Saturday 2 July 2022

Aleksander Nærbø
ChongYan Liu
Liu Renjun
Matvei Matveev
Ruiqi Ge
Shujing Huang
Tristan Gittens
Wang Ziyu
Xia Xueyang
Yan Xiangfei

Masculinity implies a set of behaviours, figures or interests that are typical and “appropriate” for biological males. Many qualities and features, positive or negative, are sometimes attributed to masculinities or “kidnapped” into this gender role.

This concept not only constrains males in some cases but also oppresses other genders: when declaring that males should behave in specific modes, it implicitly indicates that other genders shall not do so，and vice versa. Today, one of the achievements of gender studies is that people have started to realise that masculinity is a paradigm, a social construct rather than a natural fact. Traits related to this concept have become blurred and uncertain as people gain more insights into themselves and society. Perhaps these predetermined traits will no longer be valid at some point in the future.

This exhibition presents works from 10 artists. Some of the works blended visual images and symbols of males into objects to be observed; some indirectly outlined the presence of males by portraying relationships;some manifested postures on gender and identity-related issues.Through various perspectives focusing on the same topic, this exhibition invites its audience to reflect on gender, identity, expectations and self-image.