张璐
Lu Zhang
aka Almaz

Artist Statement 

As I grow up I discover my gift of seeing the paradoxically philosophical and hauntingly emotional in the familiar and banal. I draw inspirations from my inner explorations and adventures as I travel to share with the world. 

In more academic terms, I consider myself "Post-Feminist Artist". Through my paintings I explore a new and more empowering form of feminism in the context of post-cosmopolitanism. The exploration goes on as I evolve through experience of life. So far the following themes emerged as I create: 

1) the sexual tension that fuels hidden wars (2016-2017)

2) our problematic relationship with our beloved familiar foods; or, the value of things, and how we attribute value (2017-2018)

3) the definition of the idea of “home” - the physical, the emotional, the spiritual. In our contemporary life full of changes, our disorientation and fear of losing identity drives us for a sense of belonging in searching for something that doesn’t change, what is always there waiting for us, a place we feel so safe that we can be our true self - a place we call Home. (2018-2020)

4) Aller/Retour: the insatiable desire for the unknown and the constant craving for home. The paradox of growth. (2020-2021)

For the meaning of "post-feminism", please refer to an article I wrote in 2019 : .Is the one feeding less worthy than the one leading? (A Post-Feminist Manifesto) 

For a day-to-day account of my creative process, follow me on Instagram: @luzhang.art. 

My Hakka Root

As I explore the world my awareness of my own origin grows. The more I travel far from home, the more I value my root. My parents being from far apart regions, share the same ancestral root - Hakka （客家）. Originally from the central China and moving southwards, Hakka people have the tradition of migrating, calling home where life takes them. The women in Hakka family play a pivotal role in supporting the family members to go far in seeking their happiness. It was an instinct of my grandma to create a warm home always ready to welcome husband and children from a tiring journey through diligent work and care. Through their enduring and loving presence, my grandma and my mother endowed me the courage and freedom to embrace the big big world with the positive and joyous curiosity of an innocent child. 

"Here, my love for you. Take it, and go play, do whatever you want with it!" An ocean of unconditional love was passed to me through my grandma when I met her the last time, shortly before she passed away in 2018. 

It is a motherly love so powerful that it actually sets you free. 

Today, I make Hakka rice wine in Lyon, in the way shown by my mother, living the thousands of years old ritual of brewing "mother liquor" （客家娘酒）. 

(2020)