Lyric Shen Reflects on the Power of Material Memory in 'There is an occlusion'

For hand papermakers, an “occlusion” describes when strands of hair or flecks of dust find their way onto a sheet, disrupting its otherwise clean existence by an unexpected obstruction. In Lyric Shen’s latest solo presentation at Silke Lindner, the artist delves into this concept as a metaphor for how (often unintended) experiences become embedded in the greater fabric of life, exploring exile and transference through intricate veils of ink and paper.

There is an occlusion pairs the ancient craft of porcelain and stoneware with contemporary techniques like inkjet printing and digital media. Underscoring ideas of memory, privacy and the passage of time, the exhibition culminates in the heart of the gallery with a poignant reconstruction of a room from a Japanese colonial house that once belonged to her mother’s family, built solely from drawings and oral history.

Through this imagination of both personal and shared history and nightmare, Shen reimagines the very concept of occlusion to encapsulate how memories and histories shape a person, leaving marks on both the body and the world that surrounds it.

The exhibition is now on view in New York through April 26.

Silke Lindner
350 Broadway,
New York, NY 10013