Ghislaine Leung's Exhibition Balances Explores Motherhood Through Conceptual Scores

Ghislaine Leung's exhibition titled Balances is currently on display at Maxwell Graham / Essex Street in New York until October 15, 2022. This showcase features a collection of objects and interventions arranged as scores, a conceptual approach inspired by Fluxus and Sol LeWitt, where the works primarily serve as guidelines for execution. After becoming a parent, Leung's focus has shifted from critiquing institutional neutrality to exploring personal agency. One installation, Times, is only accessible during her studio hours (Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to 4pm), requiring frequent setup and takedown. Another piece, Hours, displays a wall painting of 168 rectangles, indicating each hour of the week, with 14 studio hours obscured. A baby monitor broadcasts images from the gallery's back room, emphasizing the deep connection between parent and child, regardless of the artistic environment. Leung's work examines the fluid boundary between motherhood and artistry, employing minimalism to challenge the notion of separating these roles. The exhibition's impact lies in its ability to convey profound contradictions through simplicity.