March 22 - May 8, 2025
From Women & Their Work:
“Inhale the Interruption 动弹 invites an interruption within the immediacy of living. In Chinese culture the burning of incense was used to measure time as well as recall endearing experiences. For Ranran Fan, this scent interrupts cycles of conditioned adverse thoughts, opening pathways to the mind’s vast possibilities. Through these visceral connections, psychological traumas can be addressed with serenity, patience, and strength.
This exhibition seeks the audience’s participation in this process. After experiencing the incense, visitors are invited to submit their responses to this encounter which will be analyzed by a custom chatbot trained from personal writings of Fan. Using the artist’s sentiments as its model, the chatbot will respond audibly. Entering further into the gallery, visitors will discover a series of automated time-telling sculptures and interactive video projections that will react to both breath and the movement of each audience member. Completing the immersive experience is a sundial sculpture that beckons the viewer to experience it outside. Together, these elements form a three-part installation that explores the passage of time and the potential for healing.
About the Artist:
Ranran Fan is a device-maker and an artist who works in installation, new media and performance. They have presented their immersive installations in solo exhibitions in Hallie Ford Museum of Art (Salem, OR), The Print Center (Philadelphia, PA), Currents 826 (Santa Fe, NM), No Land (Santa Fe, NM), and Sanitary Tortilla Factory (Albuquerque, NM). Their work has also been included in group exhibitions internationally such as Academy Art Museum, SITE Santa Fe, Santa Fe Art Institute, Tamarind Institute, OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (China), Wind H Art Center (China) and Incheon Marine Asia Photography and Video Festival (Korea). They participated in several residencies such as SOMA Summer (Mexico) and Leonardo@Djerassi (U.S.). They are currently an Assistant Professor of New Media Art at the University of North Texas.
About Women & Their Work:
Women & Their Work fosters the artistic growth of women artists by encouraging them to make new, adventurous work and develops audiences for whom contemporary art is meaningful. Our mission is to ensure that women artists are represented in all forms of art. For 47 years, Women & Their Work has been a cornerstone of the Austin arts community and has actively developed the careers of more than 2,000 women artists, presenting hundreds of visual art exhibitions, music, dance and theater events, film festivals and education programs. Nationally recognized for the quality of its work, Women & Their Work has played an important role in the development of the visual and performing arts in Texas.”
Reception: March 22, 2025 | 7–9 pm
Women & Their Work (Cesar Chavez)
1311 East Cesar Chavez Street
Austin, 78702 Texas
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