2024 Curatorial Fellow
Biography
shuang cai is a curator, writer, educator, and multimedia artist. Their curatorial endeavors aim to bring forth the power of interconnectedness and diverse voices across communities. Their art practices focus on logic, interactions, and humor. They were an editor of Adjacent and have curated shows at LATITUDE Gallery, theBlanc, All Street NYC, and Joy Museum (Beijing). They hold a Bachelor's degree from Bard College double majoring in Computer Science and Studio Art and a Master's from New York University Interactive Telecommunication Program (ITP).
About their goals for the fellowship:
"The NARS Curatorial Fellowship in Brooklyn symbolizes my commitment to catalyzing meaningful connections between local communities and artists engaged through NARS. Throughout this fellowship, one of the central goals is to curate and organize the artists-in-residence shows. I aim to approach the exhibitions by fostering connections between the artists, cultivating relationships between the artists and myself, and facilitating interactions among the artists. On one hand, these connections will play a crucial role in enhancing the engaging experiences of the shows. More significantly, this collaborative effort aspires to unravel personal narratives and cultural heritage, serving as the bridge between diverse artists and communities.
Beyond the conventional exhibition format, the fellowship endeavors to initiate a series of targeted and inclusive creative workshops and other programmings, drawing on my background in education and community building. Further elaborating on the connection between artists and across communities, these workshops strive to facilitate collaboration and skill-sharing between artists and the local community, with the primary goal of democratizing the creative process. Through careful curation, these programs will encompass a range of traditional techniques to contemporary explorations, incorporating conceptual discussions. By leveraging the existing skill sets of the artists-in-residence and my current creative communities, the workshops seek for accessibility and enrichment for all participants.
During this fellowship, my focus revolves around strategic curation, employing compelling exhibitions and interactive workshops to catalyze a lasting impact. The purpose is to fortify connections, understandings, and shared creativity within the cultural tapestry of NARS and its diverse communities. Hopefully, achieving this objective will craft a lasting legacy that harmonizes with the dynamic nature of the neighborhood. In my role as curator, I will lead this endeavor, ensuring the fellowship becomes a catalyst for transformative artistic experiences, fostering connections that transcend the confines of traditional art spaces."
"The NARS Curatorial Fellowship in Brooklyn symbolizes my commitment to catalyzing meaningful connections between local communities and artists engaged through NARS. Throughout this fellowship, one of the central goals is to curate and organize the artists-in-residence shows. I aim to approach the exhibitions by fostering connections between the artists, cultivating relationships between the artists and myself, and facilitating interactions among the artists. On one hand, these connections will play a crucial role in enhancing the engaging experiences of the shows. More significantly, this collaborative effort aspires to unravel personal narratives and cultural heritage, serving as the bridge between diverse artists and communities.
Beyond the conventional exhibition format, the fellowship endeavors to initiate a series of targeted and inclusive creative workshops and other programmings, drawing on my background in education and community building. Further elaborating on the connection between artists and across communities, these workshops strive to facilitate collaboration and skill-sharing between artists and the local community, with the primary goal of democratizing the creative process. Through careful curation, these programs will encompass a range of traditional techniques to contemporary explorations, incorporating conceptual discussions. By leveraging the existing skill sets of the artists-in-residence and my current creative communities, the workshops seek for accessibility and enrichment for all participants.
During this fellowship, my focus revolves around strategic curation, employing compelling exhibitions and interactive workshops to catalyze a lasting impact. The purpose is to fortify connections, understandings, and shared creativity within the cultural tapestry of NARS and its diverse communities. Hopefully, achieving this objective will craft a lasting legacy that harmonizes with the dynamic nature of the neighborhood. In my role as curator, I will lead this endeavor, ensuring the fellowship becomes a catalyst for transformative artistic experiences, fostering connections that transcend the confines of traditional art spaces."