Public Programs: Orchid Pavilion Gatherings

​

The exhibition is accompanied by Orchid Pavilion Gatherings, a series of free public programs inspired by Su Xiaobai’s paintings and the historic Chinese tradition of poetic literary gatherings. Set within Venice’s Biennale ecosystem, the series positions Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel as an active site of cross-cultural screenings, dialogue, performance, and poetry.  

The series is curated by Jenny Lin, PhD, Associate Professor of Critical Studies and Director of the MA Program in Curatorial Practices and the Public Sphere at University of Southern California Roski School of Art and Design, and inaugural Su Xiaobai Foundation Curatorial Resident.

Gathering 1

“The Gate of the Palace, A Pond of Spring”

​Poetic Reflections

May 7, 2026

16:00 – 17:30

Palazzo Soranzo van Axel ​

​​

Inspired by the quiet intensity and meditative presence of Su Xiaobai’s paintings, this opening celebration gathers a series of lyrical reflections by exhibition curator Stephen Little, architect and designer Kulapat Yantrasast, and public programs curator Jenny Lin. Through readings and personal meditations, the speakers respond to the philosophical, aesthetic, and material dimensions of Su Xiaobai’s work, tracing resonances across artistic practice, cultural memories, and the transformative possibilities of poetry.

The exhibition’s visitors are invited to contribute a poetic line or brief verse inspired by their encounter with Su Xiaobai’s paintings within the special setting of Palazzo Soranzo Van Axel in Venice. In the exhibition’s closing program, the poetic fragments will be recomposed into a song shaped by chance, resonance, and the shared imagination of its many contributors. In this way, the exhibition extends beyond the act of viewing: it becomes a living field wherein experiences with Su Xiaobai’s art alchemize into shared poetic song.