Ashley Ouderkirk BORN in 1998 in Shenzhen, artist Wang Ming is presenting her debut solo exhibition at the Fou Gallery in New York City until March 8. In this exhibition, titled “Through Lingering Windows,” Wang captures the subtlety of everyday life, transforming familiar scenes into contemplative psychological landscapes that explore the intersection of memory, emotion, and the self. For most city dwellers, daily life revolves around a familiar routine: rushing from home to work and back, rarely pausing to observe the world around us. For Wang, however, these ordinary moments — walking through familiar streets, parks, or interiors — serve as a foundation for her artistic practice. She draws on her surroundings to craft compositions that delve into our emotional connections to the mundane while seeking deeper meaning. The artist gravitates toward quiet scenes amidst the chaos, finding inspiration in architectural details, everyday objects, and small, manicured green spaces tucked away in bustling neighborhoods. Each painting is infused with an emotional resonance — loneliness, solitude, comfort, or pride — rooted in Wang’s own reflections on the scene. Color plays a central role in Wang’s practice, particularly her use of gray and blue. Gray tones convey a sense of heaviness and muted time, while blue evokes longing, distance, and the expansive quality of atmosphere. In “Fountain” (2024), pale gray skies and deep blue undertones evoke melancholy, with the off-center fountain creating a sense of unease. Recurring motifs in Wang’s work, such as shadowy figures and windows, reflect her exploration of identity. Shadowy figures, androgynous and undefined, invite viewers to project themselves into the work, shedding identifiers like age, gender, and race. In “New Beginning” (2023), a shadowy figure stands with arms outstretched beneath a keyhole-shaped archway. The composition conveys a striking duality. The weight of the stone architecture evokes anxiety, while the passageway opens toward a bright cerulean sky, symbolizing hope and renewal. Drawing from their rich art historical lineage, Wang uses windows as a lens to examine both the external world and internal emotional landscapes. In “Window Spider” (2023), viewers peer through a double-arched cloister window into a vibrant blue sky, where birds soar freely. Yet the scene conveys a sense of separation, with the viewer positioned inside, longing for connection. Above the window ledge, a delicate spider descends, symbolizing creation and patience. Through her deeply personal and evocative work, Wang invites viewers to pause and appreciate the poignant beauty of the everyday. (Ashley Ouderkirk is a curator, art writer, editor, and artist advisor based in New York and Los Angeles.) | 