Lamenting to the heavens, lamentingtotheearth.

   The Ningxia Hundred Flowers Cooperativeforwomenis located on the periphery of China’s impoverished western region of Xihaigu in Ningxia province. With big mountains, deep valleys, and arid land, the living conditions of the people are extremely harsh.In recent years, the local government has made efforts to implement effective policies and programs to alleviate poverty, which brings the annual decrease of the population living under the poverty line.However, the development of society and the local economy is still restricted by the harsh natural environment. In comparison to the Suzhou and Hangzhou city areas, Ningxia is indeed far from heaven. Yet, Wen Fang has discovered “Heaven” there. Wen Fang emphasizes that she has witnessed tenacity, optimism and elegance in every feeble life of the womenof Ningxia. Every time she encounters such life, and suchpeople, their seemingly hellish life could not conceal their heavenly radiance in their hearts. These women always give Wen Fang a glimpse of such radiance. The women of Ningxia do not blame others for their fate, rather, they are pursuing their own happiness with their own diligence. Wen Fang has found “Heaven” in their smiles – it is a “Heaven” found in their intrinsic optimism and tenacity, as well as in their passion to the land that has nurtured them.

   In 2009, Wen Fang was introduced by the French NGO “Ningxia Women Association” to The Ningxia Hundred Flower Coop sisters, and began working on the“Arts for Crafts’ Sake” project. The “Arts for Crafts’ Sake” was a concept proposed by Wen Fang that combines the creativity of contemporary art and design with traditional craftsmanship, which is useless in the modern society for the people living in northwest China. With local craftsmanship, the women have created a series of designs and artwork tailored to the international luxury market. Wen Fang aimed to intensify the influence of art on life in a way of developement. She tries to protect and pass on the skills of traditional craftsmanship to a new generation of artists by using creativity and the commoditization of artworks to help local craftspeople to alleviate poverty. After the show and the sales of the artworks, Wen Fang will return half of the profits to members of The Hundred Flower Coop to invest in education, health care and development in order to realize the dream of “Arts for Crafts’ Sake.”

   Hosted by Beijing Li-Space in collaboration with the French NGO “Ningxia Women’s Association,” and solely sponsored by Dior,Heaven, WEN Fang + Ningxia The Hundred Flowers Cooperative will be held at Li-Space at Caochangdi Red No.1, Building F in Beijing, from May 29thto July 17th. Curated by Gu Zhenqing, the opening ceremony will be held on May 29that 16:00.Heavenwill be the second art exhibition that Wen Fang has collaborated with The Ningxia Hundred Flower Coop sisters. Which kind of visual impact and conceptual evolution will be brought by the marriage of contemporary art and traditional handicraft? Please stay tuned.