Karen Smith introduces artworks at the “Chen Qiulin: Heartland” exhibition at Pingshan Art Museum. Photos from the museum

The Pingshan Art Museum has unveiled two new exhibitions as part of its ongoing “Hometown Series” — “Chen Qiulin: Heartland” and “Hometown Spring, Season 2: Archive.”

Since its launch in 2020, the “Hometown Series” has explored the deeper meaning of “home” — beyond geography — at a time of rapid urbanization and mass migration.

Curated by Karen Smith, “Heartland” brings together video, photography, and installation works created by Chen Qiulin over the past two decades. Drawing inspiration from her hometown of Wanzhou in Chongqing Municipality, Chen not only documents changing lives shaped by the Three Gorges Dam resettlement project, but also turns her attention to Dong ethnic villages in Guizhou Province, examining the domestic lives of local women.

Scenes from the “Chen Qiulin: Heartland” exhibition

Chen captures the fleeting poetry of everyday life. Through personal experience, her work taps into universal human emotions, presenting her long-standing reflections on individual existence and the search for home. She invites viewers to pause and consider: What places, memories, and quiet moments have shaped who we are today? And where do we find ourselves?

Smith notes that Chen’s practice goes beyond visual expression, awakening deep sensory memories and emotional resonance, with the sense of smell playing a key role.

“Hometown Spring, Season 2: Archive” examines the themes of “small towns” and “hometown” through the perspectives of 14 contributors, including artists, architects, musicians, and filmmakers. The exhibition documents the project’s second season, juxtaposing works, interviews, documentaries, and artists’ texts.

Artworks at the “Hometown Spring, Season 2: Archive” exhibition.

Moving beyond a single geographic boundary, the exhibition looks at small towns across China, focusing on families, personal memories, advertisements, signs, and a mix of old and new. Using anthropological fieldwork methods, it offers an immersive viewing experience akin to browsing local archives.

Pingshan Art Museum director Liu Xiaodu said the “Hometown Series” resonates strongly with Shenzhen — a city shaped by migrants — bringing visitors closer to the art. He hopes every visitor will engage in a dialogue with their own memories of home and find a spiritual place to dwell in the present.

Posters of the two exhibitions at Pingshan Art Museum.

Dates: Through Aug. 30

Venue: Pingshan Art Museum, Pingshan District (坪山区坪山美术馆)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D1

SkyShuttle: Line 1 to Culture Center Station (文化聚落站), Exit A