Carabiner Earrings by You Wu - Exhibition Limited Edition

The Leisure Dilemma is an installation diptych that explores leisure activities in the context of consumerism. According to Merriam-Webster, the word “leisure” means “freedom provided by the cessation of activities, especially time free from work or duties.” Oxford English Dictionary defines “leisure” as “time when one is not working or occupied.” However, the proliferating athleisure culture creates a dream realm made out of seductive products and recreational sports activities. Thus our culture nowadays equivalents “leisure” to a series of commodities and actives that economically and socially appropriate citizens’ free time. “Leisure” is now a duty fulfilled by consumption. One has to consume to relax; one has to work to consume; one has to work to play. The two installations in the Leisure Dilemma created by You Wu are inspired by these self-contradictory imageries of leisure presented by advertisements.

(from Shenzhen, China) You Wu is an artist living and working in Baltimore, MD. Through a variety of mediums ranging from painting to sculpture to performances, their current body of work explores the problematic of globalization and consumerism. They have exhibited their works at VisArts (Rockville, MD), Terrault (Baltimore, MD), and Florida International University (Miami, FL). They have been a member of Current, a local alternative artist-run space, since 2017.

Wu received a B.F.A in Painting with a studio concentration in Photography from Maryland Institute College of Art. They are currently an M.F.A. candidate at Towson University.