Nature of Being

Ruth Jeyaveeran, Koyoltzintli, Lin Qiqing, Nia Imani Winslow

Curated by RU Guest Curator Hayley Ferber

All Street Gallery, 119 Hester St, New York, NY 10002

On View: Thursday, June 20th - Sunday, July 21st

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 20th, 6-8pm

Artist Talk: Wednesday, July 10th, 6-8pm

Closing reception: Sunday, July 21st 4-6pm

"Nature of Being" is the culmination of Residency Unlimited’s 2024 NYC-Based Artist Residency Program, showcasing the work of four extraordinary artists: Koyoltzintli, Ruth Jeyaveeran, Nia Imani Winslow, and Lin Qiqing. This exhibition delves into the complex themes of identity—both as individuals and within the broader context of community. Utilizing traditional craft methods and materials, including wool felting, clay, collage, and weaving, these artists investigate the dynamics of human existence and communal belonging through themes of migration, cultural heritage, and the cycle of life.

Koyoltzintli’s work is profoundly influenced by the geographies of her upbringing on the pacific coast and the Andean mountains in Ecuador. Her photographs and sculptures invite viewers into a sensory and introspective journey, where the collective memories and storytelling of her community resonate powerfully through her creation and performance of pre-columbian inspired instruments. Koyoltzintli generates the primordial sounds of “space” through her ceramic spherical drums and figurative flutes, drawing inspiration from the life cycle process, personal narratives and the rituals of her ancestors. 

Ruth Jeyaveeran uses textiles to explore themes of estrangement and connection influenced by her experience within the South Asian diaspora. She reflects a shared history of displacement and fortitude through her process of sewing, tying, and felting fibers together, a metaphor for repairing fractured relations. Ruth’s soft sculptures and installations evoke terra incognita maps and monsters, representing fear of the unknown and hinting at forgotten or lost objects which have been unearthed and recontextualized.

Nia Imani Winslow’s vibrant paper collages celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the African and Black diaspora. Her work pays homage to various historical epochs, highlighting the indomitable human spirit that perseveres through adversity. Nia’s pieces are a tapestry of daily experiences and historical contexts, capturing the essence of Black life with a focus on resilience, triumph and joy.

A native of China, Lin Qiqing employs her distinctive style of weaving with naturally dyed, hand-spun paper yarn to depict the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Her figurative tapestries and sculptural installations embody existential themes, reflecting the struggles endured by humanity. The labor-intensive nature of Qiqing’s work underscores the perseverance intrinsic to the human condition for survival.

In "Nature of Being," each artist's work is a reflection on individual and collective identity, showcasing the diverse experiences that shape our understanding of self and community. The exhibition underscores the importance of traditional crafts as a medium for contemporary storytelling and cultural expression. Each artwork in this exhibition serves as a narrative thread, weaving together stories that spotlight the diverse and multifaceted nature of identity. By employing traditional craft methods, these artists not only preserve but also reinvent their cultural practices, creating a dialogue between the past and the present.