ART021 Beijing Forum Features Marina Fedorova in Cross-Cultural Art Dialogue
A thought-provoking roundtable titled “Women Artists: Nature, Technology, and Cultural Synthesis” took center stage at the opening of ART021 Beijing Contemporary Art Fair on May 22. The forum brought together prominent voices in contemporary art for a cross-cultural dialogue on how female artists are shaping the discourse around ecology, innovation, and identity in an increasingly interconnected world.
Held at the 798·751 Art District, the event featured Russian contemporary artist Marina Fedorova, renowned Chinese ink painter Peng Wei, and was moderated by Xiao Ge, Editor-in-Chief of Phoenix Art and Vice President of the Phoenix Center. The conversation explored how feminine perspectives are redefining the relationship between humans, nature, and digital technology.
Xiao Ge opened the discussion by highlighting how women artists often employ a decentralized, emotionally driven narrative style that emphasizes intuition and lived experience. She noted that such approaches challenge dominant structures and offer new pathways for understanding the human condition in the context of technological change.
Marina Fedorova, known for her immersive multimedia works, emphasized the role of new media as a sensory bridge rather than a barrier between humanity and the natural world. “Technology, when approached with sensitivity, can serve as a tool for reconnection,” she said, referring to her current exhibition Chrysalis, which integrates painting, AR, and sculpture to reflect on transformation and inner renewal.
Peng Wei contributed a contrasting but complementary perspective grounded in traditional Chinese aesthetics. Through the lens of classical ink painting, she reflected on time, balance, and the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, drawing parallels with Eastern philosophies of cyclical transformation.
Despite their differing artistic languages — one rooted in futurism and digital innovation, the other in classical techniques and cultural memory — both artists expressed a shared commitment to portraying nature as a source of strength, continuity, and emotional depth. Their dialogue underscored the expanding role of women artists in bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary challenges.
The forum concluded with a walk-through of Marina Fedorova’s Chrysalis exhibition at the Sputnik Partners booth, where the conversation continued informally among guests and fellow artists. The session served not only as an exchange of ideas but as a live example of how art can act as a platform for global dialogue and cultural synthesis.