Platform-l, opening exhibition

a FiguRe ReSeMBliNg a bird dances violently to the majestic beating of drums. The feathers add a visual strength to the movements of the bird-like figure. The gloomy ambience of the exhibition makes your heart beat. The attention-grabbing video of the mysterious ritual titled Can you remember is by Korean contemporary artist Bae Young-whan. Platform L is presenting Pagus Avium, a solo exhibition of work by Bae Young-whan and The Coloured Sky: New Women II, a solo exhibition of Chinese artist Yang Fudong's work, to commemorate the gallery’s opening in May. Bae’s works occupy the 2nd and 3rd  floors, while Yang’s five digital films are shown in the basement. The films, which depict vibrant colors and young Asian women, are grandly displayed on the walls drawing viewers into the scenes. The playful swimsuits the women wear are indicative of fashion in 1930s Shanghai. While they gaze into the viewer’s eyes, they laugh and playfully throw water at each other—making you feel disconnected, empty and awkward. Maybe the feeling is a one-sided effect from the blatant fakeness of the beach scene, and it makes you wonder why he didn’t film this at a real beach. When talking about his artwork, Yang explained that the dissonance is meant to emphasize the gap between these girls’ hopes and aspirations and the reality they live in. Both artists use new media to evoke questions about modern society.