The Starless Space — Suspending Threads
Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in, 2023
This painting features various textures of materials contained in a large yellow container resembling a dumpster. The silk-like threads and the dumpster create an intriguing dialogue about the container's dual function—both as a place of abandonment and collection. This interplay symbolizes the artistic concept of random generation and loose connections. The composition reflects a blend of real-life observations and elements drawn from the artist's personal experiences.

In terms of color, the chrome-yellow dumpster reflects an urban identity of New York, while the black, white, and multicolored threads suggest a spectrum of emotions, which is sometimes dull, sometimes intense. This seemingly unrelated relationship mirrors the artist’s unique state of mind, shaped by years of drifting and exploring. These contrasts evoke a sense of transience and the mental state of longing, bridging the physical act of containment with the spiritual significance of the threads.
This work comes from the Chinese translation of Starless by King Crimson and MatthewBarney's video work Cremaster. The Chinese translation of “cremaster” is “suspending threads,” full of poetry. Many years later when I finally learnt the meaning of “cremaster,” the poetry of the title completely disappeared in my mind. Yet I have decided to use “suspending threads” in my title to commemorate the lost poetry. The objects in my painting come from glimpses of daily life, such as a dumpster on the way to school, products (tie-dye) on shopping websites, and a green stripe from the storefront of a marijuana shop near my dormitory — I think that can be New York's color. These objects are unrelated, but they are combined through improvisation, random selection, and rescaling to construct a new image. I set the starless space as a metaphor for people's conscious space, especially the black space that is close to and yet far away from the experience when you close your eyes during meditation — a space that is both physical and spiritual, and there are no stars, only thoughts. The exaggerated expression of the threads on the tie-dye products is intended to express the long stretch that will cross the ocean and finally arrive at the place where I come from, just like one of my favorite verses “longing is like threads in the wind.” The small-sized works with painted threads and real threads surrounding the main work are like the materialization of longing. All the colors in the surrounding paintings come from the main painting, and the colors of the stripes also come from the painted objects.
From the artist >
< From Rexhibit
Threads   ✚
Threads  
The silk-like threads and the dumpster create an intriguing dialogue about the container's dual function
Container   ✚
Container
The container's dual function—both as a place of abandonment and collection
Color   ✚
Color
In terms of color, the chrome-yellow dumpster reflects an urban identity of New York
New York   ✚
New York
In terms of color, the chrome-yellow dumpster reflects an urban identity of New York
Emotions   ✚
Emotions
The black, white, and multicolored threads suggest a spectrum of emotions
Longing   ✚
Longing
These contrasts evoke a sense of transience and the mental state of longing

Catalog

Image

Keyword

Statement

Brooklyn, NY
Menu
Contact us
Newsletter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© 2025 Rexhibit. All rights reserved.
For the best experience, please switch to a larger screen.

We're currently optimizing this section for mobile — improved viewing will be available in future updates.

The Starless Space — Suspending Threads
Oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in, 2023
From Rexhibit
This painting features various textures of materials contained in a large yellow container resembling a dumpster. The silk-like threads and the dumpster create an intriguing dialogue about the container's dual function—both as a place of abandonment and collection. This interplay symbolizes the artistic concept of random generation and loose connections. The composition reflects a blend of real-life observations and elements drawn from the artist's personal experiences.

In terms of color, the chrome-yellow dumpster reflects an urban identity of New York, while the black, white, and multicolored threads suggest a spectrum of emotions, which is sometimes dull, sometimes intense. This seemingly unrelated relationship mirrors the artist’s unique state of mind, shaped by years of drifting and exploring. These contrasts evoke a sense of transience and the mental state of longing, bridging the physical act of containment with the spiritual significance of the threads.
From the Artist
This work comes from the Chinese translation of Starless by King Crimson and MatthewBarney's video work Cremaster. The Chinese translation of “cremaster” is “suspending threads,” full of poetry. Many years later when I finally learnt the meaning of “cremaster,” the poetry of the title completely disappeared in my mind. Yet I have decided to use “suspending threads” in my title to commemorate the lost poetry. The objects in my painting come from glimpses of daily life, such as a dumpster on the way to school, products (tie-dye) on shopping websites, and a green stripe from the storefront of a marijuana shop near my dormitory — I think that can be New York's color. These objects are unrelated, but they are combined through improvisation, random selection, and rescaling to construct a new image. I set the starless space as a metaphor for people's conscious space, especially the black space that is close to and yet far away from the experience when you close your eyes during meditation — a space that is both physical and spiritual, and there are no stars, only thoughts. The exaggerated expression of the threads on the tie-dye products is intended to express the long stretch that will cross the ocean and finally arrive at the place where I come from, just like one of my favorite verses “longing is like threads in the wind.” The small-sized works with painted threads and real threads surrounding the main work are like the materialization of longing. All the colors in the surrounding paintings come from the main painting, and the colors of the stripes also come from the painted objects.
Contact us
Newsletter
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© 2025 Rexhibit. All rights reserved.