Akina Zhang
she/her
Oakland, CA, USA
Akina Zhang explores the problems and pressures that women of all ages and cultural backgrounds face in society including domestic violence, sexual discrimination in the workplace, and fertility issues on her works.
“I was born in a special period, when China implemented the one-child policy. Under the influence of the patriarchal system, many families value men much more than women. I immigrated to Canada with my parents when I was 14 years old, and after learning about more diverse cultures, I discovered that the difficulties and pressures faced by women surviving in society are common. My work explores these problems and pressures such as domestic violence, sexual discrimination and fertility issues.”
"Vanity Sizing", Bronze, handmade abaca paper, wax thread, 1" x .7" x .8", 2023
“For this work I chose two relatively extreme materials, metal and paper. I think this has a lot to do with my own understanding of gender and sexual orientation. I always look for some balance among extremes in my life, and this is undoubtedly reflected in my works."
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“I think it's both. As a producer, recognizing the essence of my queerness will help me see the essence of some problems more clearly. Many problems originate from gender differences, but have nothing to do with gender. I think the essence of this group is to create a more inclusive creative environment for artists. As a bisexual, I am also trying to explore the relationship between men and women to a certain extent.”
"The Ode", Copper, enamel, 4.7" x 7" x 3.7", 2023
"Struggle and Tolerance-Bracelet", Copper, 3.1" x 3.1" x 2.2", 2023