Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, Apr 02, 2026
Outside the box.
Cao Fei: A Tribute to Her Late Sister and Cultural Connections Through Art
Chinese artist Cao Fei honors her sister in a Sydney exhibition amid themes of urban life and cultural exchange.
On an ordinary day in 2022, Chinese artist Cao Fei received an unforgettable message from her sister, Cao Xiaoyun, then residing in Sydney, Australia.
The message, delivered via WeChat, informed Fei that her sister, suffering from cancer, would soon enter palliative care at Westmead Hospital.
This call marked their last conversation, as Xiaoyun passed away a month later at age 50.
Fei, an internationally acclaimed artist with exhibits at renowned venues such as the Venice Biennale and New York, knew she would not see her sister again due to China's stringent 'zero-COVID' regulations.
Inspired to memorialize Xiaoyun, Fei recorded a conversation with her sister, preserving her story and insights.
Fast forwarding to 2023, following the reopening of China's borders, Fei traveled to Sydney.
There, she prepared for her first major solo exhibition in Australia at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW).
The exhibition, part of the Sydney International Art Series for 2024–25, is titled 'Cao Fei: My City is Yours 曹斐: 欢迎登陆' and spans 20 years of her multimedia artistry, centering on themes of urbanization in China and technological change.
At the heart of the exhibition is 'Golden Wattle', a tribute to Xiaoyun featuring a life-like living room installation.
This space includes Xiaoyun's artwork, letters, and personal items.
'Golden Wattle' is named after Xiaoyun's favorite Australian flower, symbolizing her appreciation for the natural environment of her adopted city, Sydney.
Fei's exhibition combines real and virtual cityscapes and highlights connections between Chinese and Australian cultures.
'Hip Hop: Sydney', another prominent work mirrors her prior 'Hip Hop: Guangzhou'.
It features local residents including Chinese Australians, integrating dance as an expression of cultural identity.
While exploring Sydney's social and cultural hubs, Fei noted the city's appeal and similarities with Guangzhou, further deepening her connection to the sister city.
Participating local communities were instrumental in creating her project in Sydney's Chinatown areas, reflecting the vibrancy and adaptive nature of its Chinese cultural precincts.
The exhibition also echoes experiences of contemporary city life.
Fei's reconstructions of sites like Guangzhou's Hongxia Theatre and Sydney's Marigold Restaurant, closed due to COVID-19, underscore the loss and transformation endured by urban and cultural landmarks.
Cao Fei's exhibition runs at the AGNSW until 13 April, intertwining a personal narrative with broader themes of cultural exchange and urban transformation.
The message, delivered via WeChat, informed Fei that her sister, suffering from cancer, would soon enter palliative care at Westmead Hospital.
This call marked their last conversation, as Xiaoyun passed away a month later at age 50.
Fei, an internationally acclaimed artist with exhibits at renowned venues such as the Venice Biennale and New York, knew she would not see her sister again due to China's stringent 'zero-COVID' regulations.
Inspired to memorialize Xiaoyun, Fei recorded a conversation with her sister, preserving her story and insights.
Fast forwarding to 2023, following the reopening of China's borders, Fei traveled to Sydney.
There, she prepared for her first major solo exhibition in Australia at the Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW).
The exhibition, part of the Sydney International Art Series for 2024–25, is titled 'Cao Fei: My City is Yours 曹斐: 欢迎登陆' and spans 20 years of her multimedia artistry, centering on themes of urbanization in China and technological change.
At the heart of the exhibition is 'Golden Wattle', a tribute to Xiaoyun featuring a life-like living room installation.
This space includes Xiaoyun's artwork, letters, and personal items.
'Golden Wattle' is named after Xiaoyun's favorite Australian flower, symbolizing her appreciation for the natural environment of her adopted city, Sydney.
Fei's exhibition combines real and virtual cityscapes and highlights connections between Chinese and Australian cultures.
'Hip Hop: Sydney', another prominent work mirrors her prior 'Hip Hop: Guangzhou'.
It features local residents including Chinese Australians, integrating dance as an expression of cultural identity.
While exploring Sydney's social and cultural hubs, Fei noted the city's appeal and similarities with Guangzhou, further deepening her connection to the sister city.
Participating local communities were instrumental in creating her project in Sydney's Chinatown areas, reflecting the vibrancy and adaptive nature of its Chinese cultural precincts.
The exhibition also echoes experiences of contemporary city life.
Fei's reconstructions of sites like Guangzhou's Hongxia Theatre and Sydney's Marigold Restaurant, closed due to COVID-19, underscore the loss and transformation endured by urban and cultural landmarks.
Cao Fei's exhibition runs at the AGNSW until 13 April, intertwining a personal narrative with broader themes of cultural exchange and urban transformation.
