Yukin Zhang: I belong to the species Homo sapiens or other (extinct) species of the genus Homo.

Opening reception: Thur, Feb 22, 6pm-8pm

Open to the public and free

Exhibition on view: Feb 23 - Mar 6, 2024; by appointment only, request here.

Regular gallery hours: Mon - Fri, 9am- 5pm

Gayle and Ed Roski Gallery, 3001 S. Flower Street, LA 90007

Yukin Zhang's paintings and multi-media works present the human body objectively and scientifically through nontraditional "self-portraits" that have been stripped of social identities and cultural background. Her goal is to look at herself and all humans in the same way animals are viewed– as merely lives that exist on Earth. In doing so, she ponders the position and role humans should have in the ecosystem.

The exhibition's title paraphrases the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of human. It invites viewers to look at the artist’s body, as well as their own, as an entity of biological components, systems, and creation of Nature with "species of human being" as the sole identity. This body of work aims to return to the core essence of humans in this overwhelmingly complicated world to reexamine what we are and what we are made of.