Poster by Li Xinmo
Bald Girls – A Door
By Juan Xu
Feminist thought stands as one of the most significant intellectual contributions of the 21st century, compelling us to re-examine the world we take for granted. It signifies the awakening of women, the long-dormant half of human society, who have begun to harness their power and actively participate in the progress of human civilization. Thus, feminist thought is akin to a grand hall, and only by passing through its door can one enter a completely new realm of life. This door symbolizes the self-awakening of women. The so-called “A Door” refers to women themselves; only by opening themselves can they unlock the gateway to feminism—a philosophy that teaches women how to be independent and free. Feminism, starting from self-awakening, has now developed over forty years.
As an organization with a clear feminist consciousness, “Bad Girls” collaborates with “Zajia Lab” to open this door, inviting artists from both China and abroad to jointly build a platform for women’s art. Through their unique perspectives, dialogues, and exchanges, they help women step out of the narrow confines of the “self,” discover their true selves, understand the world, and ultimately enter the broader realm of “us.”
“Bald Girls” is committed to spreading feminist thought through art, promoting cutting-edge feminist art theory research, and introducing China’s avant-garde feminist art to the international community through the “Zajia Lab” space, while also bringing influential international feminist artists to China. Since 2013, “Zajia Lab” and “Bald Girls” have collaborated on a new project focusing on the current state of feminism in China and its historical and present development in the West. This project invites an international feminist artist each year to interact with China’s avant-garde feminist artists, “Bald Girls,” through exhibitions, live art, forums, and other forms, facilitating dialogue between Chinese and Western feminist artists. Through the language of art, they engage in deep spiritual exchanges and collisions, exploring the commonalities and differences between Chinese and Western feminism, as well as the state of feminist existence within China’s social ecology, further delving into the connotations and significance of feminist thought and its potential for localization and development in China.
Yang Yinhong, One (Wo)man’s Battle, Performance
Artistic Boundary-Crossing and Female Consciousness
The focus of this event is on the Western feminist pioneer Mary Bauermeister. Living in an era on the eve of the second wave of the Western feminist movement, she was known for her independent spirit and rebellious personality. In the late 1950s, she attempted to cross boundaries by integrating music, painting, poetry, installation, and other art forms through “synesthesia,” ushering in a new era of art and becoming one of the founding pioneers of the Fluxus movement. In dialogue with Bauermeister are several Chinese artists from various fields: Fanny, a representative figure in Chinese experimental vocal music, whose works showcase a strong feminist consciousness by singing about aging and flesh; Mai Zi, a member of the feminist action group, spreading feminist ideas through her words and actions; Emi Shimizu, a Japanese artist with a global citizen consciousness who has long resided in China, presenting different perspectives on Asian feminist art through her unique artistic language; and Andrea Thal from Switzerland, bringing reflections and dialogues on contemporary European feminist art.
From left: Mai Zi, Fanny
The founders of “Bald Girls” Jiny Lan and Li Xinmo, also attempt to cross artistic boundaries in this event. The entire art event breaks through traditional exhibition models, using Mary Bauermeister, Shimizu, and Thal as the historical and international axis, borrowing the “anti-art” elements of Fluxus, and taking the protest actions of the feminist action group as the vertical axis, integrating music, poetry, painting, photography, and discussions to create cross-boundary art. “Bald Girls – A Door” is not only a cross-temporal and cross-cultural fusion of feminism internationally and domestically, historically and presently, but also a platform exploring the avant-garde and contemporary nature of feminist art. The event emphasizes liveness, spatial sense, and formal diversity, breaking conventions, focusing on experimentation, liveness, and continuity, expressing feminist thought through art, and jointly promoting Chinese women’s social participation and self-expression.
Andrea Thals Poetic Performance
Bald Girls – A Door
Curator: Juan Xu
Artists: Li Xinmo, Jiny Lan, Mary. Bauermeister, Fanny, Mai Zi, Emi Shimizu, Yan Yinhong
Time: March 25 – April 2013
Location: Zajia Lab, Beijing
Fennie work
Jiny Lan, 108 + 1, installation, Performance, 2013
