The 11 Contemporary Art Center is pleased to present the group exhibition Negative 25, showcasing works by eight artists: Ruowei Liu, Xinyi Qin, Dingyue Fan, Peishan Huang, Suhaylah Hamid, Celia Lees, Yiwen Hu, and Mengjia Zhao. The exhibition will officially open on February 25, 2025.
Walter Mitty, the protagonist of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, works as a negative assets manager at Life magazine, processing negatives from photojournalist Sean O'Connell. As the magazine prepared its final issue, Sean sent a negative roll, specifying that Negative 25 was his best work and ideal for the cover. However, this crucial negative was lost. To retrieve it, Walter embarked on an urgent journey from the U.S., traveling to Greenland, Iceland, and Afghanistan via Yemen. Along the way, he faced harrowing events like jumping from a helicopter into the sea, battling sharks, and escaping a volcanic eruption. Ultimately, he found Sean in the Himalayas, only to realize Negative 25 had been with him all along.
The content of Negative 25 is revealed only at the end—a photograph of Walter seated at the entrance of Life magazine, engrossed in his work. This journey is both Walter's quest to retrieve the lost negative and his profound rediscovery of life's meaning. "Good things never seek attention." Negative 25 is a pivotal element in the film and a powerful symbol: each person has their own Negative 25, representing an elusive dream or an overlooked aspect of daily life. Trapped by routine, people often overlook the importance of fully experiencing and appreciating life. It takes courage to take that first step, explore the unknown, and uncover surrounding beauty.
The artists in this exhibition use abstract language as their creative medium. Through dynamic lines, fluid colors, and ambiguous shapes, they explore the core of emotions and thoughts. By reflecting on life and examining themselves, they capture the intangible essence of consciousness, exploring humanity's pursuit of the unknown and its quest for meaning. Each brushstroke conveys these insights, imbued with profound significance. Complex compositions, layered hues, and symbolic expressions create philosophical spaces for the audience. Each work is like an unexposed negative film, symbolizing the unknown, pursuit, and discovery, filled with infinite possibilities waiting to be interpreted. Viewers are encouraged to project their own understanding and imagination, finding their personal Negative 25. In this space, there are no standard answers—only endless thought and exploration.
