Yin Xiuzhen's 'Heart to Heart' at Hayward Gallery: Found Garments and Collective Memory
At the Hayward Gallery in London, Yin Xiuzhen's exhibition 'Heart to Heart' utilizes discarded clothing to delve into themes of shared experiences and memory. Among the showcased pieces are the 'One Sentence' series (2011), where various garments are sewn together resembling film strips, and the 'Bookshelf' series (2009–13), which reimagines clothing as sculptural books. The main installation, 'A Heart to Heart' (2025), features a yurt-sized heart adorned in red fabric with inviting seating. Additionally, 'Collective Subconscious (Blue)' (2007) presents a minivan with an extended passenger area. However, during the review, the heart installation was unoccupied, and access to the minivan was restricted for safety reasons, prompting reflections on the installations' emptiness and the uniform representation of community.
Key facts
- Yin Xiuzhen's exhibition 'Heart to Heart' is at Hayward Gallery, London.
- The show uses found garments to represent lived experiences and collective memory.
- Works include 'One Sentence' series (2011) and 'Bookshelf' series (2009–13).
- The titular installation 'A Heart to Heart' (2025) is a yurt-sized heart draped in red attire.
- 'Collective Subconscious (Blue)' (2007) is a minivan with an elongated passenger compartment.
- During the reviewer's visit, the heart installation stood empty.
- Viewers were barred from entering 'Collective Subconscious' due to safety concerns.
- The review questions the lack of friction and critical engagement in the installations.
Entities
Artists
- Yin Xiuzhen
Institutions
- Hayward Gallery
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom