Bald Girls – PinkSolution / Fundacion LIA Colombia 2014

Poster by Li Xinmo

Bald Girls – The Pink Solution

By Juan Xu

For this exhibition, Bald Girls has chosen the title Pink Solution—a phrase that seems to embody a Latin American romantic sentiment, rich in “femininity,” yet seemingly at odds with their artistic ideology. In reality, they do not oppose femininity; on the contrary, they actively advocate for the protection of women’s unique traits and natural essence. The core mission of Bald Girls is to challenge injustice through Pink Solution, a perspective distinct from conventional male-centered ways of thinking.

In the context of globalization, both China and Latin America are rapidly developing economies that share a history of semi-colonial or colonial oppression. However, their cultural dilemmas differ: China faces an identity crisis shaped by the intersection of post-communism, Confucian traditions, and consumerist society, whereas Latin America grapples with a post-colonial reality marked by Catholic influences and political struggles, often culminating in armed violence.This intercultural dialogue exhibition in Colombia features not only Bald Girls but also three artists from different Latin American countries: renowned Guatemalan anti-dictatorship artist Regina José Galindo, Colombian artist Sandra Miranda Patin, and Argentine artist Sol Storni.

Li Xinmo. Pink Solution – A Life Without Violence, Mural, 2014

The exhibition centers on Pink Solution, showcasing works by six artists from both continents across different periods of their careers. Chinese artist Li Xinmo will present a large-scale mural, Pink Solution – A Life Without Violence, created in response to Colombia’s social reality. This piece continues the mural tradition established by her previous projects, Bald Girls in Iberia and Bald Girls – Timelag at Single Mom in Bonn. In addition, two of her politically relevant works—Where Ethnicity and Politics Disappear (2009), created in collaboration with Japanese artist Shimizu to explore racial and national identity, and Nowhere to Say Goodbye (2011), which expresses a longing for autonomy and freedom through a feminist lens—will make their international debut in Bogotá.

Li Xinmo, Nowhere to say Goodbye, Performance, 2014

Artist Jiny Lan will present Admonition and Survival of the Fittest, two new works that critically examine institutionalized discrimination against women in China. In an era where pseudo-Confucian ideologies such as “female virtue” are gaining traction, these pieces carry a particularly ironic undertone. Jiny attributes China’s gender discrimination to the fusion of Confucian emphasis on bloodline continuity and modern utilitarian thought. Her 2014 series of works not only challenge traditional ideologies but also propose insightful and constructive solutions—her own interpretation of Pink Solution.

Jiny Lan, Survival of the Fittest, Photo, Installation.

Alongside contemporary works, Pink Solution will also feature seminal pieces by two artists who are pivotal figures in the art histories of China and Latin America. Chinese artist Xiao Lu’s Dialogue (1989), a widely recognized classic from the China/Avant-Garde Exhibition, is still relatively unknown in South America, where it will be introduced as a “new” work. The exhibition will also present her 2014 feminist piece Shield. The juxtaposition of Open Fire and Shield not only reflects Xiao Lu’s personal artistic journey but also offers a perspective on contemporary Chinese socio-political art.

Xiao Lu, Open Fire, Photograph, 2004

Another key highlight is Who Can Erase the Traces? (1999) by renowned Guatemalan artist Regina José Galindo. This performance piece, which protested the candidacy of a former dictator in the presidential election, caused a major public stir at the time. Much like the impact of Dialogue in China, this work provided Latin American women artists with a unique template for political expression, carrying profound socio-political significance. In addition to this classic piece, Galindo will also present Avalanche, a new performance video exploring the value of women’s lives and the dynamics of power in Latin American countries. The meeting of Xiao Lu and Galindo, as well as the participation of Bald Girls in Bogotá, marks an important collaboration between Asian and Latin American feminist art.

Regina José Galindo, Who Can Erase the Traces ? Performance

Argentine artist Sol Storni’s A Drifting Heart is an interactive performance that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Over seven days, she will traverse every corner of the city, inviting passersby to listen to their own heartbeats through a stethoscope, compelling them to acknowledge their existence. In the final stage of the piece, she will create “shadows” on the ground, engaging pedestrians in an interactive “dialogue” about the presence of life and its projection in space.

Colombian artist Sandra Miranda Patin’s installation Credit Guarantee reflects the psychological trauma experienced by communities affected by prolonged armed violence. Using beeswax, she constructs a 488-layer tile structure, symbolizing how violence forces people to flee their homelands, leaving behind indelible memories. The struggle to rebuild a life after exile is as fragile and arduous as stacking wax tiles—yet, within this fragility, there remains a glimmer of hope.

Sandra Miranda Patin, Credit Guarantee, Installation

Colombia is still a country plagued by armed violence and insecurity. In response to this reality, Bald Girls will collaborate with local artists to create a performance piece under the theme of Pink Solution, collectively envisioning a “Pink Utopia” free of violence and built on the principles of equality.