Growing up in an art-led household, what was the first artist or piece that profoundly influenced you, and how has that shaped your curatorial vision?
My earliest memories were informed by much of the gallery life I experienced – the artists that came in and out of my world and the installations by those such as James Turrell and Peter Campus that mystified me as a small girl. One of my earliest recollections was of Cai Guo-Qiang’s 2003 performance, Man, Eagle, and Eye in the Sky at Siwa Oasis. I vividly recall the collaboration with local children and the pyrotechnical explosion of kites in the desert sky. Cai memorlialised the project by creating a series of gunpowder drawings. This experience sparked my fascination with art that transcends traditional spaces, embracing unpredictability and dialogue.
with Lucca Hue-Williams on his back
Man, Eagle and Eye in the Sky: Two Eagles 2004
Cai’s work taught me to see art as a bridge between cultures and a challenge to conventional boundaries. It shaped my curatorial vision to engage with artists exploring intersections of tradition and modernity, East and West, and global narratives. His approach to dualities, reminiscent of yin and yang, deeply resonated with me and fuelled my early interest in Chinese contemporary art and geopolitics. At Albion Jeune, we have aspired to collaborate with artists of my generation, pushing the limits of art’s role in socio-cultural contexts, much like Cai’s grand metaphors for humanity. I am happy to say Cai remains a mentor, keeping this influence alive.
