Jake Yang’s art practice explores queer youth culture and the way it sits alongside and intersects with his cultural background, raised in a conservative traditional Chinese culture. In Yang’s work privacy, intimacy, care, and freedom are celebrated in lush, safe natural environments.
He challenges normative assumptions through an examination of intersecting identities and existing in three very different cultures simultaneously. His practice explores internal conflict, a sense of fracture as well as the longing for cross-sacredness and celebration of safe spaces.
In this solo exhibition Yang uses painting and textile sculpture to explore the glorified and fierce Asian figure, and the process of neglect, acceptance, and celebration of culture reflected in his relationship with identity.
Nexus Arts acknowledges the Kaurna people as the owners of the land where we live, learn, and work. We respect their culture and elders and acknowledge their sovereignty was never ceded. We recognise that visual arts, music and storytelling have been central to Aboriginal cultures for over 70,000 years. We work to support this lineage.
