Mingyue Feng

About

Mingyue Feng (b. 1995, China) is an artist and a young researcher.

She got an MFA from the Painting Department of China Academy of Art in 2022, and an MA  in Contemporary Art at the RCA. in 2024. She focuses on everyday living, the conflicts and contradictions that arise from interpersonal behavior, social issues such as rights, gender, and class, and the logic and real causes underpinning these issues. Recently, she has begun to study the changes in labor, logistics, and infrastructure in a globalized economy, and how the space in which individuals live changes in the face of such a flow of goods. In the work process, she adheres to fieldwork as a methodology for her creative work. She uses words to record personal experiences, observes content and informal interviews, etc. She incorporates real experiences into her creations.

FLUX, this installation explores the intricate interplay between societal structures and individual autonomy. It confronts the phenomenon of social inequality while proposing a path toward personal liberation through self-reflection and active engagement. The work invites viewers to become participants, their movements and perspectives continually redefining the piece. As they navigate the space, the balance of the see-saws shifts, causing the candles to tilt, metaphorically illustrating the fluid nature of social hierarchies and personal identity. It serves as both a critique of society and the individual, as well as a call to action, urging individuals to break free from self-imposed limitations and actively shape their reality.

The artist drew inspiration from her experiences as an international student, her daily consumption patterns sparking an interest in the fluidity of international trade. FLOWING, an installation piece, explores the complexities of international trade, globalization, and personal identity within the context of the global economy. Two printing devices in the artwork continuously print import-export data from China and the UK onto a single sheet of paper. As the printing process continues, the data becomes increasingly illegible, reflecting the complexity and opacity of international trade. The piece examines the intricate mechanisms of international trade, questioning the measurement standards, decision-making powers, and the hidden implications of logistics and labor exploitation in capitalist systems.

The artist conducted extensive research, personally tracing the path of Chinese export trade and investigating local markets and import-export practices in various locations. In May 2024, she embarked on a journey from Yiwu, China, following China’s foreign trade routes through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Poland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Through bartering, she eschewed modern monetary transactions, connecting with local people and cultures through the most primitive form of trade. She documented this remarkable journey in a book titled “WHERE ARE WE GOING” and a film called FOLLOW THE LINE. Through personal investigation, she aimed to explore changes in individual lives under contemporary global trade, delving into the experiences of those who have relocated due to foreign trade work, and examining their sense of belonging and feelings about this flowing lifestyle.