Teasthetic is delighted to announce another special collaboration with Fou Gallery, inaugurating a fresh chapter in our Tea Alchemy tea ceremony series. We hosting a special tea ceremony Tea Alchemy: Red Tea and Roses during the exhibition Saba Farhoudnia: Falling Petals, Standing Roses.
Time
Session 1: April 21st, 2024, 1:00—2:30 pm
Session 2: April 21st, 2024, 4:00—5:30 pm
Location: Fou Gallery, 410 Jefferson Avenue, #1, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11221
Artists: Gong Mengyan
Capacity: 12 People per session
Ticket Fee: $30 per person (plus Eventbrite fee)
NEW YORK—Fou Gallery warmly invites you to join us for the Tea Alchemy: Red Tea and Roses event on April 21st. This occasion inaugurates a fresh chapter in our Tea Alchemy series, resonating with our ongoing exhibition Saba Farhoudnia: Falling Petals, Standing Roses, as we strive to merge Chinese tea culture with the tea-drinking culture of Iran. Guests will be seated on both sides of the meticulously designed "Winding Stream Party" tea stage under tea artisan Gong Mengyan's guidance, using tea utensils crafted by multi-disciplinary artist Ruth Borgenicht. Together, we will indulge in the intertwined aromas of two ancient civilizations, China and Iran, as they unfold within the delicate leaves of the present moment.
Tea and Dessert Menu
The first tea—Lapsang Souchong
Tea snack—Coconut Milk Rose Jelly
The second tea—Red Tea with Rose
Tea Stage
Tea artist Gong Mengyan has prepared a Chaxi 茶席 (tea stage) full of deep meaning. In this event, Mengyan and guests will sit on the wooden floor of the gallery’s exhibition space. The design of the Chaxi is inspired by the literati game of “Winding Stream Party 曲水流觴,” popular during the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–589 A.D.), where participants would sit along the banks of a stream, float wine cups downstream, and whoever the cup stopped in front of would drink and compose poetry.
Tea Utensils
A set of unique teawares designed and created by artist Ruth Borgenicht is special for the event. Inspired by the Chinese literati’s view of nature, Ruth drew inspiration from the spirit of Chinese landscapes to craft tea cups reminiscent of natural rocks and stones. These cups are designed with rounded bottoms, which necessitate constant holding to contain the tea, thus encouraging guests to focus on the experience of tasting and being present.
Iranian Tea Culture Tips
Iranians favor black tea and enjoy it piping hot. Their day typically begins with the first cup of tea after waking up, and tea drinking remains a constant throughout their daily routines. Iranian tea is a distinctively aromatic brew, typically a blend of black tea enriched with distinct flavors of rose petals and cardamom, reflecting the rich culinary heritage of Iran. The second tea in our ceremony menu will be a Chinese red tea brewed together with roses, inspired by the Iranian tea culture.
Gong Mengyan presenting a previous Tea Alchemy tea ceremony at Fou Gallery
The Tea Alchemy series is a collaborative project between tea artist Gong Mengyan and Fou Gallery in New York, focusing on residency tea ceremonies. It aims to offer participants a distinctive tea experience by integrating interaction, tea tasting, and art exhibitions, allowing them to immerse in the profound allure of tea culture. Gong Mengyan is skilled at harmonizing traditional tea art with modern aesthetics. As a hub for artistic and cultural exchange, Fou Gallery provides the perfect platform for this innovative venture. This series highlights the rich history of Chinese tea ceremonies and invites exploration into the beauty of cultural fusion.
Tea Artist
Gong Mengyan, a tea artist, pursued in-depth studies of Chinese tea culture after earning her Ph.D. from Tsinghua University in 2015, apprenticing under the highly innovative tea master Li Shuyun. Mengyan has collaborated with arts and culture institutions in New York to host numerous tea gatherings and educational events. In 2023, she founded the Teasthetic studio, with a mission to spread the tradition of Chinese tea art and culture in a modern and innovative manner by drawing inspiration from contemporary life and art.
Event Planner
Iris Zhang holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from China and a Master's degree in Arts and Culture Management from Pratt Institute in New York. Her experience includes organizing various independent music performances and large-scale music festivals in China, including West Lake Music Festival and East Sea Music Festival. She participated in the production of the independent film End of Summer (2017), which was recognized with the KNN award at the 22nd Busan International Film Festival. She has also worked for exchange exhibitions She Says, Her Story (Washington D.C., 2021), Fluid Boundaries: Four Artists from the Pan-Austro-Nesian Arts Festival (Washington D.C., 2022), and Hsin-Chien Huang: The Data We Called Home (New York, 2022). Qi is currently a partner and the Director of Communication and Special Events at Fou Gallery in New York. Her focus is on bringing diverse art forms to the gallery's community. She has designed and coordinated numerous special events, such as The Continuum of Migration: Improvised Music by Che Chen, 16mm Film Loops Workshop, and Mycology on Fire: Mushroom Cultures to Cultivation.
FOU GALLERY is an apartment gallery and creative lab based in New York. Fou is dedicated to promoting creative talents and projects of our time. As suggested by its name, Fou is both a denial of the mainstream commercial gallery model and an active contributor to a new, organic art community. With the belief that the enjoyment of art is an essential part of everyday life, Fou offers a vibrant, inspirational selection of original works in art and design, and hosts various events to create a diverse and accessible art space.