Lotus Che: Mother Wound

Portrait of Lotus Che by Jorian Charlton

Lotus Che: Mother Wound

October 24 – November 2, 2024
Remote Gallery, 568A Richmond St. West, Toronto

Lotus Che presents Mother Wound, their first solo exhibition, inviting us into a world where art becomes a bridge between the seen and unseen, the conscious and unconscious.

Mother Wound showcases a diverse body of work, while acting as a mystical healing journey for the artist. Through a wide range of media – charcoal, paint, ink, textile, and clay – Che constructs spiritual mindscapes that delve into the shadow self confronting life’s most complex challenges – trauma, death, healing, and rebirth. With curation by Yuluo Wei, Che’s gallery exhibition will guide viewers through the layers of stored emotions and intergenerational trauma that they seek to repair through their art. By engaging with the Jungian concept of the shadow self, that is, the repressed unconscious mind, which Carl Jung considered an ubiquitous human characteristic, Che’s art becomes a link between the individual and the universal.

In The Beginning, The Mothers Series. Mother II, glazed ceramic sculpture, March 2024 © Lotus Che

“Lotus’s work is evocative of deeply personal and universal experiences, adeptly giving form to intense emotions that, once materialized, offer hope for transcendence. Their artistry captures the beauty inherent in the cathartic, embracing the rawness of minimalism to convey the maximal complexity of human emotion. I firmly believe that art has the power to lift us from darkness, but this requires artists with the courage and strength to render it into a visual language. When I observe Lotus’s work, I see a developing language that profoundly resonates with our subconscious, signaling a significant evolution in contemporary art.” – Vai Jong Hunken, Founder, Trastienda Machete.

Che’s creative process is marked by an introspective reality, a personal journey that is as much about self-discovery as it is about artistic expression. Their installations, composed of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and textiles, are schematic invitations to self-contemplation and, ultimately, self-actualization. Through their art, they challenge the viewer to move beyond societal constraints of shame, guilt, and fear, and explore their whole self, allowing even the darkest parts to emerge into the light.

Addressing oppression, violence, loss, and the struggle for spiritual and generational healing – Che’s work maintains a touch of humor and childlike playfulness. Other universal themes such as identity, memory, gender, inequality, motherhood, invisible labor, feminism, sexuality, family and power dynamics are prevalent. Che’s work offers an unfiltered exploration of the psyche. It’s an intimate look at eroticism, vulnerability and relationships. Their art is grounded in self-realization, and is a manifestation of their inner world. It’s an act of self-love, an attempt to embrace all aspects of themselves, including the darkest parts that society often compels us to repress.

Puppets say yes, charcoal, acrylic paint & gypsum, March 2024 © Lotus Che

“Lotus creates with honesty & vulnerability. Their work is a mirror reflecting our own journeys, making us confront our deepest emotions & fears. Behind the striking imagery is a beautiful reminder that we’re all connected through our personal struggles & triumphs.” – Adam Meghji, Co-Founder, peggy.com

Che’s art emerges from the docile submission of their past filled with violence, oppression, and abuse. Their works confront that past through powerful strokes, evoking a palpable tension. Bold lines give form to the formless, fighting back with a force that finds grounding in the present. Their drawings and paintings often focus on the human figure yet blur the line between abstraction and representation. The work conveys an intensity that may, at times, overwhelm, with expression that summons not only pain but joy as well. The imagery within Che’s work prompts a crucial question for the observer: is this the sound of ecstasy, or a cry for help?

There is little colour – just the striking contrast of black and white, occasionally punctuated by a hint of bare skin. This stark duality serves as a metaphor for the polarities we all share – life and death, love and hate, strength and vulnerability, often both at once, occupying the same space.

“Lotus’s debut solo exhibition, ‘Mother Wound’ delves deep into the complexities of the human psyche, transforming personal trauma into profound artistic expression. Subtle influences from pivotal figures in contemporary art resonate throughout her pieces – Keith Haring’s bold activism, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s raw expression of identity, and Louise Bourgeois’s intimate exploration of deep-seeded emotions. Building upon these inspirations, they have forged their own unique and powerful mode of self-expression.” – Anita Yuluo Wei, Director, SSEW Project.

In Mother Wound, Che’s own dance between light and dark manifests a transformative process that mirrors the act of giving birth, an experience that is both cathartic and healing. It is a spiritual metamorphosis that is akin to an exorcism, where the act of creation becomes an act of release. Che’s latest series of clay vessels exemplifies this theme, as metaphors for the disembodiment felt during traumatic events. These vessels are not just empty forms; they are representations of the mother, constantly emptying herself for others, and through this work, Che asserts, “This work is me filling my cup.”

While it is nearly impossible to fully experience another’s pain, joy, or any emotion, art holds the power to bridge that gap. Deeply vulnerable, Che’s work extends a hand to the viewer, not to draw them into darkness, but to hold space for and heal shared darkness together. It invites us to confront our own shadows, to find strength in vulnerability, and to engage in a shared process of healing.

Studio view at The Museum Of Contemporary Art Toronto with Akin Projects n. Photo: Lotus Che

Mother Wound presents a series of 188 individual works forming a transient, fluid whole. This exhibition is not just a collection of artworks but an unfolding story of the human condition. It is brutally honest, vulnerable, and emotive – a powerful statement of self-actualization and spiritual metamorphosis.

Public Programming:

Champagne Opening & Artist Reception
Saturday, October 26, 2024, 7–10pm
Everyone welcome | RSVP to rsvp@lotusleaf.xyz

Live Model Drawing with Charcoal
Wednesday, October 30, 2024, 6:30–9:30pm
Buy Tickets $15

Artist Talk & Closing Reception
Saturday, November 2, 2024, 2–3pm
Everyone welcome | RSVP to rsvp@lotusleaf.xyz

All programming takes place at Remote Gallery, 568A Richmond St. West, Toronto, ON

On view from October 24 through November 2, 2024. To attend the champagne opening, artist reception & unofficial Art Toronto afterparty on October 24, 7-10pm, RSVP by October 14 to rsvp@lotusleaf.xyz

Generously supported by SSEW Project, Trastienda Machete, 202AM & Peggy.

Learn more at: lotusleaf.xyz
Instagram: @lotusleafxyz
X: @lotusleafxyz

Accessibility: The building is accessible for wheelchairs.