Nick Dong: 11 to 88
June 6–Aug 25, 2024
Solo Exhibition
Curated by Martin Strickland
Image: Nick Dong. Detailed View White Conch Shell of Desire, 2023. YBCA, San Francisco.
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
701 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
+1-415-978-2787
YBCA Website
YBCA Instagram
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm |
| Sunday | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Overview
YBCA’s newest exhibition, Nick Dong: 11 to 88, features 11 works and will eventually reveal 88 works by 2028.
Dong is a Taiwanese artist and jeweler based in Oakland and Taipei. His sculptures and installation work combine light and sound elements with themes of Buddhism.
This beautiful show, curated by Martin Strickland, teeters on the nothingness and sparkle of existence.
“Inspired by these universal themes, Nick Dong: 11 to 88 explores the intersection of spirituality and the tangible world, evident in the interplay of light and sound in Dong’s work. As the objects on display are approached, they will light up, naturally drawing the flow and focus from one work to another. Visitors will also be invited to enter two immersive illuminated rooms.”
Nick Dong. Dharma Wheel of Ego and Egoless, 2024. YBCA, San Francisco.
Upon entering the galleries, visitors are asked to remove or cover their shoes, an Asian custom I love, as it signifies a sacred space.
“Dharma Wheel of Ego and Egoless connotes the spreading of Buddhist teachings, leading all beings towards enlightenment. This artwork is deeply inspired by the movement of the Dharma Wheel, creating an immersive space where viewers experience self-existence and the dissolution of the ego.
In the mirrored room, viewers encounter countless reflections of themselves, forming an illusion filled with mist and creating a surreal experience. Sitting at the center of the installation, they witness light, sound, and walls coming to life as 24 movable walls transform the space. Being transported beyond the mundane world, the endless reflections of the self in the mirrors gradually dissolve into emptiness.”
Lotus of Impermanence, 2023. YBCA, San Francisco.
Lotus of Impermanence is a sculpture “inspired by the surface of water and adorned with over 100,000 mosaic mirror pieces. Up close, it resembles undulating waves, while from a distance, it appears as a calm and unchanging horizontal plane, reflecting the flow and constancy of life.
At the center of the piece rests an otherworldly lotus which rotates slowly, seemingly navigating through the unpredictable encounters and changes in life.”
The simplicity of Dong’s self-portrait, made from 50 strands of the artist’s hair, is clever in its execution, serving as a time-capsuled homage to the self.
“The wisdom Awareness of one’s true destiny at age 50, attributed to Confucius, suggests that it often takes time and experience for individuals to truly understand their purpose in life…In this context, the number 50 represents not just a milestone in years, but a pivotal point in an artist’s career…Through his artwork, Nick Dong has arrived at this crossroads, embodying the essence of Confucius’s insight.
His practice serves as a mirror reflecting the intricate journey of personal and artistic growth, harboring lessons from decades of creative pursuits while also echoing the sentiment that the quest for knowledge and mastery in one’s craft is perpetual. As he enters his fifth decade, Dong’s trajectory reassures us that an artist’s evolution is an infinite passage, marked by continuous learning and an unyielding zeal to explore beyond the visible horizons.”
Nick Dong. Victory Banner of Enlightenment, 2024. YBCA, San Francisco
In Victory Banner of Enlightenment, participants strike the centerpiece’s gong, which signals the installation’s 40 handmade brass bells to chime a meditative melody.
“The Victory Banner, originally a flag representing triumph over enemies, signified glory in ancient times…The intention is to convey the message of victory through sound, hence includes the resonance of singing bowls. This sound transcends auditory perception, manifesting as vibrational waves that can be physically felt. This sensation arises from an internal awareness beyond the traditional five senses and requires an in person experience.
With varying frequencies, the audience can attain a heightened state of spiritual awareness, similar to enlightenment. The artist believes that everyone inherently possesses the potential for enlightenment, needing only certain triggers. This piece serves as an invitation for viewers to explore their inner perception and spirituality, guiding them to transcend the material world and explore a deeper spiritual realm.”
Those who practice or relate to Buddhism (like myself; my family is Buddhist) will connect with and appreciate this show. Dong’s work is as brilliantly engineered as it is stunning, providing us with that bit of Zen we didn’t realize was needed. A true gift indeed.
🗓 Nick Dong: 11 to 88 runs until August 25 at YBCA in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood.
💌 Did you see the show? What did you think? Let us know in the comments (in the Reviews section located on the second tab at the top of the page).
QUICK GUIDE: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA)
⭐ HOURS: Open Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Monday–Wednesday.
⭐ ADMISSION: General Admission Tickets Adults $10; Seniors 65+, Students, Educator $5; Accessibility caregiver and 17 & Under FREE. Membership starts at $165.
⭐ DISCOUNTS: FREE via the following: Wednesdays and 2nd Sundays. Museums for All Program (show your EBT or Medi-Cal carD). Military Personnel. Museum employees + 1 guest w/current valid staff ID. Tickets must be obtained onsite at ticketing desk.
⭐ EVENTS: FREE Community Public Art & Artist Tour on Aug 10, 2024, 2-3:30 p.m.; *REGISTER ONLINE: Free Art Workshop: Textured Clay Tiles (create a clay tile for a passed on loved one) on Aug 7, 2024, 2–4 p.m.; Free Art Workshop: Zentangle Drawings (inspired by Nick Dong) on Wed, Aug 14, 2024, 2–4 p.m.; Opening Reception (includes DJs and cash bar) for Art, Action, Change: YBCA Creative Corps Initiative on Aug 16, 2024, 5–8 p.m.; Art, Action, Change: Weekend Programs (lineups TBD, SEE YBCA website) on Aug 17–18; Free Art Workshop: Paper Parasol (inspired by Nick Dong) on Aug 21, 2024, 2–4 p.m.; *Nick Dong: Mendsmith Project from July 29–Aug 18, 2024 (Nick Dong in collab with California College of the Arts artists will transform selected participants’ passed loved ones commemorative objects into an art piece that will be presented to them in a ceremony in late August).
⭐ NEARBY ART: MUSEUMS: SFMOMA (1 min walk), MoAD (2 min walk), CJM (3 min walk). PUBLIC ART: Revelation, the Martin King Jr. memorial fountain and several others at Yerba Buena Gardens (1 min walk) [see LINK for Yerba Buena Gardens self-guided art tour].
⭐ NEARBY FOOD/DRINK: My nearby FAVES are Fang [Cantonese] (4 min walk), Yokai (8 min walk), Wise Sons (3 min walk) and *Oren’s Hummus (3 min walk). [*Check out their AMAZING HAPPY HOUR Monday–Thursday 3 p.m.–5 p.m.] and *Grace [SFMOMA’s public street-level restaurant. They also have a FABULOUS HAPPY HOUR Thursday–Monday 3 p.m.–5 p.m.] (4 min walk).
Coming Soon to YBCA
A LOVE LETTER TO ART RECOMMENDS
SEE MORE ART AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
🦋 FREE: There also are quite a few public artworks on display at Yerba Buena Gardens (750 Howard Street | map | 2 min walk), including the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial fountain, Revelation, a powerful work by sculptor Houston Conwill, poet Estella Conwill Majoza (great interview with her in the link), and architect Joseph DePace. The Yerba Buena Gardens public arts program has created a FREE self-guided tour that is downloadable to your phone, which is linked below.
DINING AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
🌳TIP: I really enjoy just chilling out and having a bite to eat in Yerba Buena Gardens, where you can either sit on the benches, grass, or on the Metreon’s Dining Terrace (tables and chairs available seasonally). *For kids, I would recommend grabbing takeout from one of inexpensive restaurants in the Metreon (the steps from Yerba Buena Gardens lead right into the food court). The park hosts FREE LIVE MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES on many weekends of the year, which is really FANTASTIC in the spring and summer. Such great vibes!!
ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS
Activities for kids at Yerba Buena Gardens include: Yerba Buena Gardens, Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Creativity Museum and the LeRoy King Carousel, the Yerba Buena Children’s Garden playground, and the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center.
NEARBY ART
NEARBY DINING
RELATED POSTS
Author: ALoveLettertoArt
