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angela lyn

Menu 1

  • work
    • On the Edge of Time
      • artworks
      • exhibition information
      • events
      • press
      • participating artists
      • publication
      • short film
      • take a peek
    • in the blue
      • exhibition information
      • artworks
      • video
    • floating gardens
    • the long journey home
    • works on paper
      • cedaring: from the archives 001A to 009A
      • cedaring: from the archives 001B to 018B
      • cedaring: from the archives 001C to 006C
    • building site
    • giving way
    • love school
    • my china
    • living here
    • landscape and portraits
    • blossom blossom
    • room 12
    • paintings 2002
  • news
  • about
    • contact
    • about me
    • biography
    • documentaries
  • Passage
    • Exhibition information
    • Artworks
    • Film
    • Collaborating Artists
    • Exhibition Booklet
    • A Closer Look
    • Supporters
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On the Edge of Time – Exhibition

On the Edge of Time

I have been painting all my life. I wonder why I am drawn to the sound of a brush. To the smell of paint. To the slow walk from a white canvas to a finished work – somehow absurd in the digital age  – Angela Lyn

Exhibition text

Stepping into the Villa, moving between the centuries-old walls, I found myself able to unfold. It was not just the immensity of the rooms, but rather that the dogma of the era had sunk into the sediment of time, leaving space to breathe and look at things freely.
The people who once lived there; who they were, what they did and why, were gone. Vanished.
What remains are marks, colors, lines and the pores of craftsmanship: snippets of searching to mark and explain our existence, somehow all floating at once in the lightness that occurs when things are no longer obvious.
The labyrinth of leftovers hanging in the moment, detached, removed from context, yet carrying something deeply forgiving: perhaps the sudden awareness of the long trail of our human effort.
It was in that moment, standing between the stretch of mirrored openings, the wild garden ballerinas and a row of skyscrapers dotting the far blue horizon, that I discovered an uncanny sense of freedom.
A feeling of being on the edge of time: that fragile ledge where nothing is obvious and one can feel life, quivering in the flesh of one’s palm – somehow senseless and precise at once. Bright, like the wire in a light bulb.
In such moments, it is as if everything is possible and one is fully alive. As if, the past, present and future are one single hum.
It was with this particular sense of freedom that I began to explore the Villa.

I began to envision those who had walked before me throughout centuries of the building’s history. I asked myself where and how does my own story connect to a baroque Villa on the outskirts of Milan? The only answer is through life itself.

A single story, whether it is mine, yours, or anyone’s, absorbed within the perspective of this vast centuries-old building, is just another minute dot in time. And yet, looking into the cracks of the walls, listening to the layers of paint: a single story suddenly becomes part of the whole.

Stories lived are the transient marks of time that make history fluid. The act of telling them is a possible means to connect the past to the present while envisioning what may lie ahead.

During the two-and-a-half years preparing my exhibition for the Villa Arconati, I have felt in touch with the lives of those who inhabited the space before me. I imagined them struggling with the issues of their time, as we do in ours. Another place, another time, yet oddly similar. Men and women carving through life with its successes and its failures. Children that were born. Families that came and went. Artists that plowed their way through time. Painters that painted. Visionaries that visioned. Dreamers that dreamed. Illnesses and destinies that wrote history. People like you and me, washed along in the mystery of existence, while the garden churns out leaves, year after year, alongside an endless trail of gardeners trimming away in the attempt to keep up.

For what I may have taken in inspiration, or what may seem presumptuous, I hope I succeed in contributing to the shape of time held within its walls. Time does not make sense of the story. It simply marks what happens.

Making a bed for Room Twenty-Two, I thought of Luisa, who once lived in the Villa. How she might have slept, on the left or on the right? Placing Eva under Hypnos, I thought of the laughter of children racing through the corridors, their voices echoing against the illusionary windows. Heaving my stone books, I thought of the thousands of thoughts that had been written and stored in the library. Sewing the veins of my enormous glove, I thought of the women who had arrived at the Villa young, and left old. In the women’s quarters, I thought of the mothers who were worried for their children when a virus hit, or when war broke out. The same worries I have when I watch the news, see the sea level rising, the forests burning, and the Covid numbers closing the doors to where my children live. Looking at the peeling frescoes, I saw in each one a story, a thought, a piece of life and alongside, my own art, queueing up in the line of decay. A quiet thought like the movement of a slow river.

While digging up the stories of my past, I thought of the ghosts of Gulangyu, wondering if they might have met the ghosts of the Villa Arconati. Making an enormous skirt for the ballroom, I thought of the corseted waists of the women, strung so tight that they could barely breathe. I thought of my grandmother’s bound feet and I thought of women today; lipo-suction, Botox and the on-going molding of our bodies in the name of beauty and desire. Preparing the dancing slippers, I thought of the thousands of steps moving back and forth across the handmade terracotta bricks. A giant mandala of time. Decades of distraction to lighten the mystery of our existence. I thought of our smartphones and Instagram reels churning away 24/7, and I questioned how much has really changed. I thought of the farmers who had once sweated the land and I thought of people now: glued to computers in high-rise offices, trying to get through life as people do and have done since ever. I saw the whole lot rooted in one on-going hum, shaping the past, present and future. The sea of stories and amidst it my own.

Download the exhibition pamphlet

  • door to the river
  • room 1 – reception
  • come sit for a while 2021 oil on canvas, wooden chair embroidered textile 120 x 80 cm (canvas) 110 x 40 x 40 cm (chair)
  • now is the time 2019 oil on canvas, triptych 68 x 68 cm each
  • the emigrant 2008 oil on canvas 125 x 180 cm
  • reception 2021 sound installation speakers, wood velvet curtain and iron rod 250 x 130 x 13.5 cm
  • room 2 – timekeeper’s lobby
  • blue monkey 2017 oil on canvas 32.5 x 32.5 cm
  • quan yin in my garden 2017 oil on canvas 65 x 195 cm
  • stretch of time 2016 oil on canvas 188 x 65 cm
  • a special kind of tea 2008 oil on canvas 30 x 42 cm
  • centurions of spring III 2020 oil on canvas 90 x 140 cm
  • centurions of spring II 2020 oil on canvas 90 x 140 cm
  • centurions of spring I 2020 oil on canvas 90 x 140 cm
  • room 3 – tearoom
  • tea party 2021 wood, metal, found objects, textile 56 x 220 x 78 cm
  • room 4 – floating garden
  • milk milk 2020 oil on canvas, cord 25 x 55 x 6 cm
  • tiger 2021 oil on canvas 26 x 42 cm
  • in the red of life VI 2021, oil on canvas 100 x 100 cm
  • in the red of life V 2021, oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm
  • in the red of life I to IV 2021, oil on canvas, 32 x 32 cm each
  • room 5 – living room
  • knitting 1994 rope and wooden sticks 160 x 100 cm
  • the lightness of being 2012 oil on canvas 125 x 180 cm
  • on the edge of town III 2021 oil on canvas 12 x 12 x 8 cm
  • a piece of the day I + II 2021 oil on canvas 120 x 12 x 8 cm each
  • close to the thicket 2004 oil on canvas 140 x 140 cm
  • nothing lost I 2016 oil on canvas, diptych 130 x 65 cm
  • nothing lost II 2016 oil on canvas, diptych 130 x 65 cm
  • room 7 – archive
  • for the time being 2021 ardesia stone, wooden trolley, sewn textile 85 x 38 x 38 cm (trolley) 30 x 30 x 6 cm (stone book)
  • room 8 – great hall of blood, sweat and salt
  • room 9 – sea room
  • in the blue I to VII 2019 oil on canvas heptaptych 220 x 68 cm each
  • raft 2021 installation wood, cloth, ropes, objects, screens 240 x 140 x 28 cm
  • room 10 – sanctuary
  • aviator 2019 oil on canvas 68 x 170 cm
  • from me to you II 2019 oil on canvas 68 x 140 cm
  • break of day 2017 oil on canvas 140 x 140 cm
  • circling ever I 2019 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • circling ever II 2019 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • the ledge 2019 oil on canvas 200 x 200 cm
  • room 11 – women’s wing
  • she woke early 2021, embroidered textile 13.5 x 38 cm each
  • an uncertain spring I + II 2019 oil on canvas, diptych 110 x 170 cm each
  • a breath in time 2021 painted textile object 70 x 43 x 7 cm
  • passage III 2019 oil on canvas 26 x 42 cm
  • room 12 – at the well
  • at the well 1994 – 2021 wood, wire, metal 310 x 80 x 70 cm
  • there are things to mend 1994 – 2021 bronze, velvet 94 cm long (needle) 80 x 24 cm (velvet hands)
  • daily life I 1994 – 2021 leather, ceramic head wood stool, mirror, brush 43 x 28 x 31 cm
  • the gardener’s hut 2021 video installation oversize cotton dress 400 x 55 x 20 cm
  • twilight zone 2013 rice charcoal on paper 70 x 30 cm
  • room 15 – green room
  • oxygen IV 2021 oil on canvas, diptych 68 x 125 cm
  • oxygen IV 2021 oil on canvas, diptych 68 x 125 cm
  • on the edge of town I 2021 oil on canvas 68 x 125 cm
  • on the edge of town I 2021 oil on canvas 68 x 125 cm
  • oxygen I 2021 oil on canvas, triptych 180 x 125 cm each
  • oxygen VI 2021 oil on canvas 290 x 42 x 6 cm
  • the shaping of the gardener 2021 ardesia stone, wood 53 x 50 x 50 cm (cedar trunk) 30 x 30 x 6 cm (stone book)
  • room 16 – hearth
  • tree school I to VIII 2021 oil on canvas 42 x 42 cm each
  • the woods and beyond I 2021 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • on the edge of town II 2021 oil on canvas 42 x 68 cm
  • the woods and beyond II 2021 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • man and tree I + II + III 1990 – 2020 wood, steel 30 x 105 x 30 cm each
  • this earth, our home 2021 bronze, velvet, cement awning 20 x 98 x 35 cm
  • room 17 – dance, dance
  • room 17 – dance, dance
  • dragons in my kitchen I + II 2021 oil on canvas 290 x 70 x 6 cm
  • dragons in my kitchen II 2021 oil on canvas 290 x 70 x 6 cm
  • contagious series 2021 oil on canvas 68 x 45 cm each
  • room 18 – step by step
  • sway to the music 2021 installation detail bronze slippers 30 x 12 x 5 cm each
  • a thousand steps 2021 installation painted canvas slippers
  • room 19 – lost and found
  • reconciliation 2012 oil on canvas 125 x 125 cm
  • mending 2020 painted cast velvet, tassel 26 x 7 x 10 cm
  • vessel 2008 bronze 45 x 90 x 90 cm
  • lost and found 2021 hand-embroidered linen 270 x 100 cm
  • room 20 – ghost room
  • daily life series 2020 mixed media
  • daily life series 2020 mixed media
  • life goes on 1991 oil on canvas 200 x 175 cm
  • room 21 – hunting room
  • wild animals in my garden 1986 oil on canvas 180 x 70 cm
  • fork 1994 bronze 210 x 25 x 25 cm
  • room 22 – while we sleep
  • while we sleep 2020 oil on canvas 140 x 200 cm
  • moonstruck 2020 oil on canvas 140 x 68 cm
  • rève 2021 oil on canvas and mirror 42 x 32 cm
  • night cherry 2022 oil on canvas 125 x 125 cm
  • room 23 – buillding site
  • construction II 2014 oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm
  • gravity 2021 stone, mirror, wood, metal pully 272 x 30 x 37 cm
  • building site chair 2015 construction wood, object embroidered text 140 x 50 x 55 cm
  • builder’s credo 2012 bricks, trowels embroidered cushions 20 x 12 x 40 cm each
  • building site I + II + III 2015 oil on canvas, triptych 220 x 84 cm each
  • room 24 – from here on out
  • runner 2012 oil on canvas 180 x 125 cm
  • room 25 – caretaker
  • leaves for the living 2022 installation raw linen, gesso, pole 290 x 100 cm each
  • Angela Lyn with man and tree I + II + III
  • door to the river
  • room 1 – reception
  • come sit for a while 2021 oil on canvas, wooden chair embroidered textile 120 x 80 cm (canvas) 110 x 40 x 40 cm (chair)
  • now is the time 2019 oil on canvas, triptych 68 x 68 cm each
  • the emigrant 2008 oil on canvas 125 x 180 cm
  • reception 2021 sound installation speakers, wood velvet curtain and iron rod 250 x 130 x 13.5 cm
  • room 2 – timekeeper’s lobby
  • blue monkey 2017 oil on canvas 32.5 x 32.5 cm
  • quan yin in my garden 2017 oil on canvas 65 x 195 cm
  • stretch of time 2016 oil on canvas 188 x 65 cm
  • a special kind of tea 2008 oil on canvas 30 x 42 cm
  • centurions of spring III 2020 oil on canvas 90 x 140 cm
  • centurions of spring II 2020 oil on canvas 90 x 140 cm
  • centurions of spring I 2020 oil on canvas 90 x 140 cm
  • room 3 – tearoom
  • tea party 2021 wood, metal, found objects, textile 56 x 220 x 78 cm
  • room 4 – floating garden
  • milk milk 2020 oil on canvas, cord 25 x 55 x 6 cm
  • tiger 2021 oil on canvas 26 x 42 cm
  • in the red of life VI 2021, oil on canvas 100 x 100 cm
  • in the red of life V 2021, oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm
  • in the red of life I to IV 2021, oil on canvas, 32 x 32 cm each
  • room 5 – living room
  • knitting 1994 rope and wooden sticks 160 x 100 cm
  • the lightness of being 2012 oil on canvas 125 x 180 cm
  • on the edge of town III 2021 oil on canvas 12 x 12 x 8 cm
  • a piece of the day I + II 2021 oil on canvas 120 x 12 x 8 cm each
  • close to the thicket 2004 oil on canvas 140 x 140 cm
  • nothing lost I 2016 oil on canvas, diptych 130 x 65 cm
  • nothing lost II 2016 oil on canvas, diptych 130 x 65 cm
  • room 7 – archive
  • for the time being 2021 ardesia stone, wooden trolley, sewn textile 85 x 38 x 38 cm (trolley) 30 x 30 x 6 cm (stone book)
  • room 8 – great hall of blood, sweat and salt
  • room 9 – sea room
  • in the blue I to VII 2019 oil on canvas heptaptych 220 x 68 cm each
  • raft 2021 installation wood, cloth, ropes, objects, screens 240 x 140 x 28 cm
  • room 10 – sanctuary
  • aviator 2019 oil on canvas 68 x 170 cm
  • from me to you II 2019 oil on canvas 68 x 140 cm
  • break of day 2017 oil on canvas 140 x 140 cm
  • circling ever I 2019 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • circling ever II 2019 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • the ledge 2019 oil on canvas 200 x 200 cm
  • room 11 – women’s wing
  • she woke early 2021, embroidered textile 13.5 x 38 cm each
  • an uncertain spring I + II 2019 oil on canvas, diptych 110 x 170 cm each
  • a breath in time 2021 painted textile object 70 x 43 x 7 cm
  • passage III 2019 oil on canvas 26 x 42 cm
  • room 12 – at the well
  • at the well 1994 – 2021 wood, wire, metal 310 x 80 x 70 cm
  • there are things to mend 1994 – 2021 bronze, velvet 94 cm long (needle) 80 x 24 cm (velvet hands)
  • daily life I 1994 – 2021 leather, ceramic head wood stool, mirror, brush 43 x 28 x 31 cm
  • the gardener’s hut 2021 video installation oversize cotton dress 400 x 55 x 20 cm
  • twilight zone 2013 rice charcoal on paper 70 x 30 cm
  • room 15 – green room
  • oxygen IV 2021 oil on canvas, diptych 68 x 125 cm
  • oxygen IV 2021 oil on canvas, diptych 68 x 125 cm
  • on the edge of town I 2021 oil on canvas 68 x 125 cm
  • on the edge of town I 2021 oil on canvas 68 x 125 cm
  • oxygen I 2021 oil on canvas, triptych 180 x 125 cm each
  • oxygen VI 2021 oil on canvas 290 x 42 x 6 cm
  • the shaping of the gardener 2021 ardesia stone, wood 53 x 50 x 50 cm (cedar trunk) 30 x 30 x 6 cm (stone book)
  • room 16 – hearth
  • tree school I to VIII 2021 oil on canvas 42 x 42 cm each
  • the woods and beyond I 2021 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • on the edge of town II 2021 oil on canvas 42 x 68 cm
  • the woods and beyond II 2021 oil on canvas 100 x 200 cm
  • man and tree I + II + III 1990 – 2020 wood, steel 30 x 105 x 30 cm each
  • this earth, our home 2021 bronze, velvet, cement awning 20 x 98 x 35 cm
  • room 17 – dance, dance
  • room 17 – dance, dance
  • dragons in my kitchen I + II 2021 oil on canvas 290 x 70 x 6 cm
  • dragons in my kitchen II 2021 oil on canvas 290 x 70 x 6 cm
  • contagious series 2021 oil on canvas 68 x 45 cm each
  • room 18 – step by step
  • sway to the music 2021 installation detail bronze slippers 30 x 12 x 5 cm each
  • a thousand steps 2021 installation painted canvas slippers
  • room 19 – lost and found
  • reconciliation 2012 oil on canvas 125 x 125 cm
  • mending 2020 painted cast velvet, tassel 26 x 7 x 10 cm
  • vessel 2008 bronze 45 x 90 x 90 cm
  • lost and found 2021 hand-embroidered linen 270 x 100 cm
  • room 20 – ghost room
  • daily life series 2020 mixed media
  • daily life series 2020 mixed media
  • life goes on 1991 oil on canvas 200 x 175 cm
  • room 21 – hunting room
  • wild animals in my garden 1986 oil on canvas 180 x 70 cm
  • fork 1994 bronze 210 x 25 x 25 cm
  • room 22 – while we sleep
  • while we sleep 2020 oil on canvas 140 x 200 cm
  • moonstruck 2020 oil on canvas 140 x 68 cm
  • rève 2021 oil on canvas and mirror 42 x 32 cm
  • night cherry 2022 oil on canvas 125 x 125 cm
  • room 23 – buillding site
  • construction II 2014 oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm
  • gravity 2021 stone, mirror, wood, metal pully 272 x 30 x 37 cm
  • building site chair 2015 construction wood, object embroidered text 140 x 50 x 55 cm
  • builder’s credo 2012 bricks, trowels embroidered cushions 20 x 12 x 40 cm each
  • building site I + II + III 2015 oil on canvas, triptych 220 x 84 cm each
  • room 24 – from here on out
  • runner 2012 oil on canvas 180 x 125 cm
  • room 25 – caretaker
  • leaves for the living 2022 installation raw linen, gesso, pole 290 x 100 cm each
  • Angela Lyn with man and tree I + II + III
 
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