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Miao Ying: A Field Guide to Ideology

An unfinished portrait of Mao Zedong surrounded by a cluster of popular celebrities and meme imagery clapping in the background.

Works by:

Miao Ying

Two images of sculpture against pollution imposed over hand taking sample
A pencil sketch of Mark Zuckerberg's face superimposed on an uber-muscular body.
A dog styled like a panda

Miao Ying: A Field Guide to Ideology
苗颖:精神实用宝典

February 8–April 2, 2022

Justina M. Barnicke Gallery

Curated by Yan Wu

Presented in partnership with Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival

 

Miao Ying: A Field Guide to Ideology (苗颖: 精神实用宝典) is the first presentation of Shanghai/New York-based artist Miao Ying in Canada. This exhibition features new iterations of her two recent projects Chinternet Plus (亲特网+, 2016) and Hardcore Digital Detox (硬核数据排毒, 2018). A first-generation internet artist in China and a dual netizen of the Chinternet and the World Wide Web, Miao Ying examines official and popular Chinese internet culture thriving behind the so-called Great Firewall.

Commenting on a recent Chinese economic strategy Internet Plus—involving the rebooting of traditional industries through cloud computing, big data, and lifestyle branding—Miao Ying’s Chinternet Plus is a parodic and critical take on the cultivation of a new, counterfeit ideology complete with promotional videos, seductive imagery, logo designs, wallpaper, and concept slogan. Its companion work Hardcore Digital Detox—a caricature of #spiritualretreatinchinternet—turns focus to the proliferation of experience economy and commodification of lifestyle in a post-materialist society.

Miao Ying: A Field Guide to Ideology is a Core Exhibition of the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.

Curatorial Tour with Yan Wu

Saturday, February 19, 2pm
Justina M. Barnicke Gallery

Artist Talk with Miao Ying (in-person and online)

Tuesday, March 8, 6pm ET
Daniels Building (DA170), University of Toronto
1 Spadina Crescent
Presented in partnership with the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design
Watch the recording

Gallery Tour with Miao Ying and Yan Wu

Wednesday, March 9, 2pm
Justina M. Barnicke Gallery

Traumatic Bonding: An Interdisciplinary Discussion about State Stockholm Syndrome

Wednesday, July 20, 6pm
Online on Zoom
Watch the recording

Exhibition Resources

Press Release
Conversation with Miao Ying and Yan Wu on Ocula
Exhibition Review on Artforum (Chinese)
Exhibition Review on Artforum (English translation)
Large-Format Text
Exhibition Documentation

Our Supporters

We gratefully acknowledge operating support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Toronto Arts Council, with additional project support from the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Special thanks to the MadeIn Gallery in Shanghai for their support in the realization of this exhibition, and to Trinity Square Video and Gallery 44 for supporting the equipment. 

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