How much visibility does queer art currently afford in China? During the month of August, the Ullens Center of Contemporary Art (UCCA) will be holding a series of events, including artist conversations, panel discussions, and screenings, aimed at helping the public answer this question.

In his final collection of writings, philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty describes the creation of art as the intertwining of the visible and the invisible. Queer art gives physical expression to that which is often invisible to the public, and thus dismantle the dichotomy between “inside and outside.” For the audience, Merleau-Ponty states that the act of perception is not a neutral process, but rather necessarily creative. Therefore visibility for queer art is vital in allowing audiences to not only interact with the artists and share in their experiences, but also participate in the interweaving of the visible and the invisible.

The second event in the series are screenings of the films Our Marriages: Lesbians Marry Gay Men co-directed by He Xiaopei and Yuan Yuan, and Yvo and Chrissy by He Xiaopei. The screening is followed by a conversation with both directors and UCCA English Editor Alvin Li. The language of this event is Chinese with English subtitles.

For more information, visit: http://ucca.org.cn/en/program/invisible-lesbians-marry-gay-men-our-marriages-yvo-and-chrissy-2/