New installation set to be unveiled at Compton Verney

SHE has been named by The Times as 'one of tomorrow’s great artists' and now Chinese-born British artist and social commentator, Aowen Jin, will be creating a unique installation at the historic Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park as part of the Museums at Night festival in October.

Compton Verney won the Museums at Night Connect competition, beating off four other museums and heritage venues across the UK to ‘win’ an Aowen Jin artist event for the venue.

Her installation, The Ritual, will open on Saturday, 29th October and runs until 13th November.

In The Ritual, Aowen will bring the magic of Chinese spiritual tradition alive within the Compton Gallery hall and chapel by shaping it into her own sacred sphere.

In this expanse she will use illusion to create a massive phosphorescent rice field installation which visitors will see shine, glow and fade as they cast light over it with UV torches.

During the show visitors will be given a bowl of rice to participate in the ritual and create an offering in the main hall.

In the evening, they will be given UV torches to reveal the magic, as the specially-treated rice reacts to UV lights and glows in the dark.

Glowing rice trails will guide visitors to various artworks spread across the grounds, leading to the gallery’s newly-refurbished Capability Brown chapel and crypt where they will uncover a series of works by Aowen and other artists that she has curated.

Aowen explains: “The artwork was inspired by Compton Verney’s impressive collection of Chinese bronze works, dating back almost 4,000 years. Vessels that were used for ancient rituals dominate these artifacts. I am creating a contemporary show that reflects the culture, tradition and history behind these objects, which is now largely lost.”