Zadie Xa’s exhibition at the Leeds Art Gallery

Leeds Art Gallery
The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA, UK
18 May 2021—04 September 2021

Moon Poetics 4 Courageous Earth Critters and Dangerous Day Dreamers tells the story of animal kinship as a survival strategy to save an ailing planet. Drawing from a range of fields including ecology, science fiction and ancient religions, Zadie Xa explores how beings imagine and inhabit their worlds. The concept is based on the Korean shamanic tale of Princess Bari, who travels to the underworld in search of life-saving water to cure her dying parents.

It is a journey through multiple dimensions led by five animal guides who speak of the damages caused by industry and resource extraction. They call upon us to recognise the interconnectedness of every lifeform on earth and to take action, before it’s too late. The exhibition marks a new level for Xa, in terms of how the experiential aspects of her practice are realised. Animating the sculptural installation with a three-dimensional soundscape and synchronized lighting, she creates a complete environment, full of voices and presence.