Lulu Wang the trailblazing interdisciplinary artist recognised for her dynamic integration of performance, drawing, and sculpture to present ‘Human Puzzle’ – her most ambitious solo exhibition to date.
Curated by Jessica Wan, the exhibition opens on Thursday 26th September at Sarabande Foundation and is supported by WePresent. Intricately weaving the threads of Wang’s practice, Human Puzzle is an exploration of the evolving relationship between the digital, physical and material worlds, reflecting the artists’ deepening inquiry into the body as a vessel and the conceptions of human. Challenging traditional perceptions of the human form, on view are a sequence of sculptural installations, performances, and interactive elements curated to offer a profound commentary on how our communications and interactions are increasingly shaped by other beings.
Central to the exhibition are newly developed works that push the boundaries of sculpture through Wang’s pioneering use of 3D printing. By merging live body scans with digital manipulation, Wang creates textural and abstract forms that defy single notions of reality. Each piece serves as a reflection of the nuances of body language and movement, revealing the often unseen dynamics of human relationships.
Highlight moments include the ‘Whispers’ series which dive into themes of intimacy and vulnerability while the artists’ ‘Forest’ installation presents an intricate assembly of human legs reimagined as surreal, branching forms, to explore the multi-layered dynamics of social encounters. The exhibition’s centrepiece ‘Bridge’ will see a monumental sculpture that encapsulates the tension and connection between opposing emotions and forces, symbolising the conflict and balance inherent in human interactions.
Alongside the sculptural works, Wang will present ‘Human Puzzle’ (2024-present) a durational performance that brings the regeneration of identities and their bond to human nature to life. This one hour and a half performance, the longest and most immersive in Wang’s career, invites the audience to become active participants, blurring the lines between viewer and performer. As the performance unfolds, the audience will navigate the space, interacting with the sculptures and the dancers, ultimately becoming part of the evolving artwork.
Inviting viewers to reconsider the very essence of what it means to be human, Human Puzzle is more than just an exhibition. It presents a transformative journey that navigates the space between individuality and collective experience, leaving each participant to reexamine their place in the intricate puzzle of human existence.
Lulu Wang says:
I’m fascinated by merging the physical body with digital contexts, creating impossible forms. My passion for technology stems from childhood gaming experiences. The interplay between technology and humanity is intriguing to me where machine glitches often reveal new meaning. My practice is an evolving puzzle and I’m continuously discovering something new about who WE are with each work. In Human Puzzle, I explore how individuals shape society and vice versa. As audiences interact, their presence breathes life into the work, transforming it into a shared journey that transcends my initial vision.
Jessica Wan, Curator of Human Puzzle says:
Human Puzzle takes us on a surreal, experiential journey of body forms exploring the potential of becoming hybrid—a rock, a tree, or a bridge shaped by technological processes. By engaging viewers in acts of looking, feeling, and moving, the durational performance and new sculptural installations simulate the interdependence between personal actions and collective movements. Referencing theatre, choreographies, and body languages, Drawing on theater, choreography, and body language, the works on view explore evolving conceptions of humanity through moments of intimacy, connection, and collectivity.
Wang’s work, which has been exhibited internationally and earned her recognition as one of the most innovative artists of her generation, continues to evolve with this exhibition. Human Puzzle represents a significant milestone in her career and marks the culmination of a ten-month residency at Sarabande Foundation, where she developed the series of sculptures and performances presented in this show. This ongoing journey began last year as a continuation of her previous project ‘Prototype Lulu X’, where Wang first began merging 3D printing with movement. Supported by DYCP funding from Arts Council England and a commission from Whitechapel Gallery, Wang embarked on her residency at Sarabande Foundation with a vision to further explore and expand this integration. Over the course of ten months, Human Puzzle became the central focus of her creative process, allowing her to visualise her concepts on different scales. The result is a unique body of works where performing and sculpting are deeply interconnected – each medium developing from and informing the other.
Human Puzzle by Lulu Wang 26th – 29th September 2024 Sarabande Foundation
