RSVP

In his 2019 short film The Woodpecker, Shanghai-born, New York-based Shen Wei (b. 1977) crafts a poetic meditation on longing, solitude, and surrender. Set in an isolated rural environment, the film explores the tension between desire and quiet acceptance, capturing the raw intimacy of existence.

Expanding on these themes, in his live performance Knee Touching Knee, Shen Wei invites the audience into an intimate, participatory setting, engaging in the simple act of cracking sunflower seeds. Rooted in Chinese folk traditions of companionship and conversation, this shared ritual becomes a space of connection and vulnerability.

Together, the film and performance transform the mundane into moments of reflection, examining cultural memory, queer identity, and the power of communal interaction. Through these works, Shen Wei weaves a narrative that reimagines human intimacy and the spaces we share.

Chinese American Arts Council, Gallery 456
456 Broadway (just south of Grand Street)
3rd Floor
New York, NY 10013

The event is free admission and will run 6.30 - 8pm.