Her Words Flow Across the River | VIVA LA VIDA × Gen z • Changsha Exhibition Review

“She has never been a thing of the past, but rather the present tense that winds its way from the spine.”

The Nüshu Intangible Cultural Heritage Charity Art Exhibition — “Gurgling Narrative: Her Words Flow Like Water Through the River”— co-organised by Viva la Vida in collaboration with the GenZ Asia-Pacific Nüshu Art Development Programme and other organisations, has now drawn to a successful close at Muziji in Yuelu District, Changsha.

A Gentle Narrative — Her Words Flow Like Water Through a River

Taking the spirit of Nüshu as its starting point, this exhibition brings together the diverse strengths inherent in women within socio-cultural contexts, exploring the profound connections that underpin the value of life. Here, Nüshu is not merely a medium for writing, but a silent declaration of women’s wisdom and emotions; it not only carries the memories of history, but also reflects the awakening of the present and the possibilities of the future.

Drawing inspiration from the nature of waves, the exhibition will be divided into three main sections: ‘The Book of Ripples’, ‘High-Foot Waves’ and ‘Rising with the Tide’. In ‘The Book of Ripples’, visitors will listen to the unique chants of the women of Jiang Yong, encounter the symbols of Nüshu — imbued with memory and strength — and experience the women’s wisdom for survival and emotional resonance. The spirit of Nüshu is resilient and enduring; in ‘High Waves’, visitors will experience the evolution and growth of Nüshu art within a contemporary context—taking traditional symbols as its starting point, yet finding new life amidst the tide of globalisation. Here, Nüshu is no longer a static form of expression, but transforms into a vibrant interpretation. In “Rising with the Tide”, visitors will collectively explore the ebb and flow of life; together with “Viva la Vida”, they will bear witness to the diverse forms of individual existence and seek the meaning of life amidst the surging tides. Her words create ripples in the soul of the river, whilst liquid verses gently embrace every bend in its course.

Water is formless, yet it can wear away stone; words are silent, yet they can pierce silk.    

May every visitor who steps into these waters touch the gleaming souls lying on the riverbed, and hear the unyielding echo amidst the waves: ‘I write, therefore I am; I am, therefore the river flows on. ’ May we all gain insight into the ceaseless resilience and tenderness of women amidst the torrent of the times, and, at the confluence of the tides, ponder the deeper meaning of life.

The Pulse of Life: An Introduction to the Exhibition Sections

1. The Book of Ripples

Module Introduction: Nüshu is currently the world’s only female-specific writing system. Hailed as the ‘wild rose of the deep mountains’, it originated in the fertile soil of Jiangyong, Hunan—an oasis in southern China. At 12:00 noon on 20 September 2004, Yang Huanyi, born in the first year of the Xuantong era, passed away. This marked the passing of the last centenarian to have experienced the entire cultural journey of Nüshu, signalling the end of the era of authentic, unadulterated Nüshu.

The stream flows gently, its ripples forming a book. Nüshu quietly recounts a cultural legend spanning thousands of years. This section will trace the origins of this cultural tide, beginning with the inception of Nüshu, to explore the definition and origins of this unique writing system. At the same time, it will trace the continuity and transmission of Nüshu culture, illustrating how it has played a vital role in the lives of women in Jiangyong throughout the ages, serving as a vital bond for emotional communication and social interaction.

2. High-Foot Waves

Introduction to this section: Words flow like the tide, both bearing the weight of history and shaping the future. Nüshu—once secret poems whispered amongst the women of Jiangyong—is the murmur of the soul and the chronicle of destiny. Today, it has transcended the boundaries of time and place, finding new life amidst the tide of globalisation. Contemporary artists, taking Nüshu as their starting point, have deconstructed and reshaped this unique cultural heritage, breathing new life into it.

In this section, viewers will witness how Nüshu has transformed from a local form of writing into a universal mode of expression, and how it has expanded from a record of personal emotions to become part of collective memory. Here, Nüshu is no longer merely a static symbol on paper, but pulsates and grows amidst the waves of the times, becoming a vibrant language of contemporary art. It is no longer a tranquil chapter of history, but an ongoing artistic experiment—a cultural ripple traversing time and space.

As the waves rise high, Nüshu is reborn — amidst the surging currents of Nüshu culture, we shall together bear witness to its resonance and reverberations within the contemporary context.

3. Rising with the Tide 

Module Introduction: Life surges like an unceasing tide, flowing ceaselessly. Every rise and fall echoes the tides of fate; every ripple bears the imprint of the individual. In the ‘Rising with the Tide’ exhibition area, we shall follow the strokes of Nüshu script to step into the surging currents of life, sense the intertwining of individual destinies with the tides of the times, and bear witness to how women’s writing carves out a presence within the flow of time.

Nüshu is not merely a script; it is an interpretation of the life force itself. On the land of Jiangyong, it was once the whispered comfort women offered one another, the letters recounting their joys and sorrows, and, above all, the vivid echoes of their lives. Today, the spirit embodied in Nüshu culture has become a global discourse on life, identity and cultural belonging.

In this section, viewers will witness how the spirit of Nüshu, within the dimension of life, transforms into a fluid visual narrative that unfolds new meanings of existence. We shall journey alongside VIVA to bear witness to the multifaceted expressions of individual lives — here, there are no static representations, only pulsating life; here, there is no singular narrative, only countless possibilities. As the tides rise and fall, life resonates. On this artistic journey spanning time and space, let us listen to the echoes of life within these portraits and, amidst the surging waves, explore the meaning of individual existence.

The Tides in Her Writing: Emotions and Awakening in Nüshu

Upon entering the exhibition hall, you will witness the entire historical journey of Nüshu — from its origins, through its transmission and evolution, to its rediscovery. The exhibition features a diverse range of media, including calligraphy, embroidery, video, audio and archival materials, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the deep emotional currents conveyed by this script, hailed as ‘the world’s softest writing system’.

On the other side of the exhibition, we are also undertaking an experimental creative project closely linked to the theme ‘Rising with the Tide’. The exhibition features a specially curated section titled ‘Drawings of Life’, created collaboratively by 40 female artists from across the country. They are students, researchers, art therapists and graphic designers, as well as pioneers of self-expression and cultural reflection. Here, they use images and text to respond to the exhibition’s central question: ‘What is your life?’

For instance, the work by 23-year-old visual artist Xiao Bai gazes directly at the viewer. The image depicts a pair of tearful yet resolute eyes, gazing into the distance, yet also looking directly at each of us who harbour inner turmoil. In her work, she writes: ‘Even when mired in a muddy black hole, I never lack the courage to rise again.’ This steadfast commitment to the resilience of life is precisely the most moving aspect of the spirit of Nüshu — supple yet unyielding, whispered yet resolute.

Take, for example, Lumensmira Lament, in which this artist, with a background in science and engineering, uses visually striking imagery to depict a spring in which ‘thunder is gathering’. In Drawing of Life, the figure breaks free from vines and bursts from its shell; the moment when ‘new shoots sprout from wounds’ is translated into a contemporary expression of Nüshu culture: even if growth is a transformative process accompanied by tearing, we can still choose to hold our heads high. In her notes, she writes: ‘Like a sunflower, the hairs stand on end with acute sensitivity’ — this is vigilance, it is pain, and it is life’s fighting stance.

Then there is Min, a 25-year-old art therapist, whose work uses abstract blocks of colour to convey that ‘purple represents pain; it is the tendrils through which I connect with the world’. She gives tangible form to her inner feelings through flowing brushstrokes, like a bare pine tree taking root amidst trauma and growing through expression. This is not merely an act of individual creation, but also a form of emotional healing. The preservation of Nüshu is not merely a cultural revival; it is, above all, a means of connection on psychological and spiritual levels.

This exhibition features not only static displays of artwork but also a specially designed interactive workshop area, inviting visitors to participate in hand-writing Nüshu, creating collages of text and images, and engaging in personal writing exercises. Here, visitors are no longer mere observers, but writers, storytellers and expressers. You will join this ever-flowing ‘river of words’ in your own way.

VIVA Life Drawing Artists

VIVA Life Drawing Artists taking part in this exhibition:

Below is a showcase of works by 43 VIVA Life Drawing artists:

About the Organisation

Viva la Vida (VIVA) is a cross-cultural arts brand operating in over 60 countries worldwide, dedicated to documenting life stories through art, promoting cross-cultural understanding and social welfare. We invite people from diverse cultural backgrounds to answer the question ‘What is your life?’ through a painting, thereby documenting a variety of life stories and fostering cross-cultural understanding.

Over the past seven years, VIVA has collaborated with organisations such as the United Nations, Coca-Cola and Tencent to organise more than 400 events and collect over 20,000 life portraits, transforming individual expression into a bridge for cultural dialogue.

The core elements of the Gen Z Asia-Pacific Nüshu Art Development Programme encompass youth social practice, Nüshu women’s art and social welfare initiatives, forming a model that ‘takes university Nüshu ambassadors as its starting point, university Nüshu art societies as its link, Nüshu women’s art activities as its scope, and social welfare initiatives for women as its objective’. Our organisational vision is to see her, empower her and support her.