Wind & Spirit 風與靈

Artist
Lily Kostrzewa
Isabella Kostrzewa

Duration
Nov 9, 2024

Location
133-32 41st Road
Flushing, NY 11355


Format
Pop-up Exhibit

A distinctive one-day pop-up art exhibition, "Wind and Spirit," 「風與靈」 grandly opened at the Flushing Chinese Cultural Center on Nov 9th, 2024. Presented by the mother-daughter artist duo—painter Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa and her daughter, fashion designer Isabella Li Kostrzewa—the exhibit offers viewers a rich feast for the senses, merging visual and conceptual artistry. Curator Xinya Li has meticulously crafted the event to showcase the power of cultural fusion and innovative design.

Exhibit participants: inluding (a) fashion designer Isabella Kostrzewa, (b) painter Lily Kostrzewa, and (c)curator Xinya Li.

"'Wind and Spirit' reflects the unique creative traits of both artists," explains the curator Xinya Li. "Lily’s paintings, rendered in watercolor, blend Confucian philosophy from traditional Chinese painting with Western religious themes from the Bible, striving to use Eastern techniques to interpret Western humanistic narratives. Isabella’s fashion designs, on the other hand, feature flowing sleeves and long robes inspired by traditional kimonos. As the wearer moves, the garments billow, embodying both genderless style and a rebellious spirit."

Exhibit flyer designed by curator Xinya Li.

Curator Xinya Li 李馨雅, featured in Forbes and an art director herself, believes that cultural workers like Lily, who have dedicated over a decade to bridging Eastern and Western culture, are truly remarkable. Isabella’s designs, meanwhile, not only stand as art but also attempt to provoke societal reflection through a rebellious lens. As Asian female artists, this mother-and-daughter duo continues to leave a lasting impact in the Western world, with profound and immeasurable significance in New York's cultural and arts scene.


“「風與靈」這個展覽的名稱融合了兩位藝術家的創作特質，”策展人李馨雅如此詮釋兩位藝術家的創作，“設計師李艾珊的這組時裝則以寬大衣袖和長袍為特色，靈感源自傳統和服，行走時衣袂 隨風飛揚，步步生風，以無性別與反叛的理念為精神內核；而李立婷的畫作以水彩為媒介，結合了中國畫中蘊含的儒家哲學與西方聖經中的宗教哲學，試圖以東方的繪畫手法詮釋西方的人文敘事。”

Lily Kostrzewa 李立婷 was born in Taiwan and graduated from the Fine Arts Department of National Taiwan Normal University. Her work has been shown in 35 solo exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions across 17 countries. After living in Taiwan for 25 years, she emigrated to the United States. Her painting style is imaginative and culturally resonant, using simple brushstrokes to create complex layers of color. Deeply concerned with human nature and social justice and with a profound love of nature, she expresses life’s journey, human struggles, and natural beauty through her art. Her color palette reflects influences from German Expressionism and American Pop Art, while her ink-like brushstrokes are rooted in her cultural heritage and years of Chinese art training.

Isabella Kostrzewa 李艾珊 graduated from Parsons School of Design, specializing in sustainable and gender-neutral fashion design. Skilled in zero-waste pattern making, she excels in creating adjustable clothing from vintage and discarded materials. As the founder of the Isaboko brand, she is dedicated to providing radical solutions for the future of fashion. Her accolades include becoming a finalist in the Redress Design Award and receiving scholarships from Swarovski and Mercedes-Benz.