PORTALS OF DIVERSITY: THE ALCHEMY OF KIEU TRAN AND TRISHLA JAIN'S PRACTICES
Glass Rice’s duo exhibition titled ‘Portals’ includes new works by sculptor Kieu Tran and painter Trishla Jain. The interdisciplinary show combines Tran’s biomorphic sculptures and Jain’s gridded ‘Yantra’ paintings, inviting viewers to explore the meditative qualities embedded in the artists’ individual practices, while merging their dynamism through a joint display.
The inception of ‘Portals’ traces back two years. “I first became familiar with Kieu’s work in 2022,” says Cecilia Chia, Founder of Glass Rice. “I discovered Trishla’s work earlier this year through a collector who introduced us to her paintings,” she says. While delving into Jain’s work, Chia discovered not only thematic similarities between her and Tran’s work but also a shared spiritual and introspective approach to both the artists’ practices.
The juxtaposition of Tran’s sensuous biomorphic ceramic sculptures paired with Jain’s abstract paintings not only fosters a harmonious dialogue between the artists but also brings forth the gallery’s commitment to provide a platform for emerging artists within the Bay Area and beyond. Significant emphasis is placed on work by female artists while fostering diversity and inclusivity in the art world.
In ‘Portals’, Jain presents a continuation of her ‘Yantra’ series. Her paintings are deeply influenced by her spiritual practice. Transitioning from the autobiographical narrative of her early practice into a broader collective awareness of the ‘present’, her work taps into breath-awareness and ‘Samādhi’, the elemental scope of the human mind to achieve deep, undisturbed peace and concentration. Each square in Jain’s minimalist and abstract paintings are painted one by one, with mindfulness of breathing, and are finally assembled by gridded lines in her ‘Yantra’ series. “This series of works developed over the last nine months or so. Cecilia had reached out to me and asked me to do a duo show with Kieu. After seeing my two series of works, ‘Tantra’ and ‘Yantra’, she felt mostly ‘Yantra’—the gridded works would go well with the organic fluid nature of Kieu’s sculptures,” says Trishla Jain.
Installation view: Trishla Jain, Portals, Glass Rice, 2024. | Kieu Tran, Fearless, 2023. Photo: Shaun Roberts.
In parallel, Tran’s ceramic sculptures take on fluid forms, serving as tangible representations of the human soul. Rooted in introspection, meditation, and a profound sense of interconnectedness, Tran infuses her work with feelings of loss, belonging, and the yearning for love. Clay, as her chosen medium, becomes a vessel for memory, holding imprints of her movements and time that shape and mold it. “When Glass Rice proposed a show with Trishla Jain and I learned about her paintings, I immediately resonated with the meditation and mindfulness that her work is rooted in,” says Kieu Tran.
At the heart of each of Tran’s sculptures is an opening—a portal that serves as a nucleus, forging a symbiotic link between the form alongside its ambient surroundings. “My work often has a hole or window in it that allows you to look through the piece, but I intentionally wanted to make work with very large openings for this exhibition to frame Trishla’s metaphysical paintings but also offer viewers new ways to see and look inward,” she says.
Within Tran’s sculptures, ethereal whispers echo in the hollows, intertwining with Jain’s metaphysical paintings. Together, they form a narrative, born from the depths of introspection, transformation, and rebirth.
Tran explains, “I plumb the depths of my subconscious to inspire others to do the same and realize how universally connected we all are,” while Jain expresses her hope that viewers find “a sense of stillness and peace; a sense of having things be where they ought to be in a world that sometimes feels very chaotic.”
Studio view: Kieu Tran photographed by Benjamin Heath. | Trishla with “Jade”, 48 x 48 inches, ink and watercolor on canvas.
‘Portals’ is more than an exhibition; it is an immersive experience that beckons viewers to explore the interconnected worlds of Kieu Tran and Trishla Jain. Through the convergence of ceramic sculptures and abstract paintings, the artists invite us to delve into the depths of meditation, surrender, and the profound transformation that arises when innovation emanates from a place of harmony and acceptance.
Chia concludes by saying, “As a Chinese-American woman, it also felt very important for me to highlight these two female Asian artists under one roof. There is little representation of South Asian and South East Asian artists in our communities outside of Asia. I am honored to have their work in my gallery.”
Text by Shreya Ajmani
Image Courtesy: Glass Rice, Kieu Tran, and Trishla Jain
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