The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum

Wen Liu: Tame Tangle

Born and raised in Shanghai, Wen Liu immigrated to the US in 2014 to pursue a career in the visual arts. Her practice examines the complexities of abandonment and acceptance, particularly in relation to her experience building a sense of security in a foreign environment. Deeply inspired by the natural world, Liu’s wall sculptures are created through a metaphorical multi-step mold-making process that she likens to the molting process, in which animals shed old or worn-out bodily elements to make way for renewal, repair, and growth.

Her compositions are inspired by an experimental calligraphy practice, where she folds still-wet paper in half to create symmetrical, inkblot-like images. These abstract “sketches” inform the sculpture’s design, bridging Eastern and Western modes of communication and interpretation. Her clay frameworks suggest organic and bodily forms such as vertebrae, pelvic bones, hip joints, braided hair, and sinuous tree roots—references symbolic of the temporal yet perpetual cycles of life.

The cavities between the skeletal structures are filled with resin and traditional Chinese herbal medicine, which Liu began integrating into her work after the loss of her father. Traditional herbal treatments are often formulated based on how effectively patients can communicate their symptoms and feelings. In this way, Liu draws a parallel between the frustration in the articulation of pain and the experience of speaking a second language, emphasizing how linguistic limitations can hinder connection and healing.

The presentation will be accompanied by a ‘zine.

Aldrich Projects: Wen Liu | Tame Tangle is curated by Curatorial and Publications Manager Caitlin Monachino.