Often, we as a society hide behind a mask in order to avoid displaying our inner emotions. This idea lays the foundation for artist Jan-Ru Wan’s exhibit “Trapped in Forever Smile.”

Jan-Ru Wan is an American artist-educator who was born in Taipei, Taiwan. Wan repurposes found objects and innovates from traditional textile techniques to address the human condition, especially of collective suffering, loss, and resilience.

“Trapped in Forever Smile” is a three-week long exhibit being displayed in the Slocumb Galleries. The exhibit is free, open to the public for visitation Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will be available through Nov. 3.

The exhibit is a collection of several series that correlate with Wan’s universal focus on the idea of being trapped behind a smile. As a whole, it is divided between the gallery’s two front rooms, and although it doesn’t look like much, it packs a mighty punch. Wan incorporates items such as hair, disposable pencils, articles of clothing, petri dishes and so much more into her work to articulate a message.

Photo taken at the Trapped in Forever Smile exhibit. (Nikki Chambers/East Tennessean)

“Hair is something that is highly personal and yet universal. When we consider separation, the hair physically is separated from our body or the emotional separation from our loved ones are symbolic and important. Each pouch has a print of a smiling face printed on it. The collection of silent smiling faces on the hand sewn silk pouches becomes a silent force speaking of abandonment and unwitting acceptance,” said Wan, discussing the hidden aspects of her series: “After Separation.”

Wan’s collection is capable of moving so many as she turns oppression into opportunity, coming from novel “Half the Sky”, the source of inspiration for one of Wan’s displayed art pieces. Wan is an extremely talented artist with features in multiple papers such as “Surface Design Magazine” and “Sculpture Magazine,” as well as participation in numerous exhibitions. If you would like to know more about Jan-Ru Wan or the Slocumb Gallery’s future events, head over to their Instagram: @slocumbgalleries.

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