Wu’s keywords: Intellectual, Anti-intellectualism, Elitism, Knowledge structure, Wisdom and Truth, Anxiety, Narcissism, Criticism, Classes, Universities, Soul and God, Spirits, Christianity and Theology, Philosophy.
胡曉楠（1998年出生於香港），視覺藝術家與思想者。胡氏聚焦於探討知識與智慧的本質，學術體系、知識結構與藝術身份之間的張力，反思焦慮及斷層如何滲透當代知識份子。她運用學院符號、裝置、影像與寫作，遊走於質疑真我與尋求真實智慧之間，批判性地審視大學與階級制度對智慧與真我的割裂；並同時以對神學與哲學的探究，追問靈魂、真理與上帝的關聯。胡氏持有香港中文大學文學碩士學位，2022年畢業於香港藝術學院藝術文學士。她的作品曾在香港藝術中心、K11藝術空間、10號贊善里畫廊及Hidden Space等多個藝術空間展出。
胡氏的關鍵詞：知識分子、反智主義、精英主義、知識結構、智慧與真理、焦慮、自戀、批判、社會階級、大學及精英大學、靈魂與上帝、靈性、基督教與神學、哲學等。
When I was fifteen, I came across Bo Yang’s The Ugly Chinese. His critique of Jiang Gang culture both struck and offended me. He described it as muddy water left in a jar for too long, eventually turning foul. This culture nurtures an environment where sycophancy and distorted morals are the norm, resulting in the deterioration of personal values and a decline in independent thinking. As I reflected on my initial reactions, I realized that I had unknowingly internalized the very behaviors and mindsets, indulging myself in a blind reverence for elitism. This realization marked a turning point, prompting me to question why such a culture persists. Why do people remain oblivious to these issues within themselves? Where does our sense of privilege originate?
As intellectuals pursue knowledge, they often become increasingly lost, focusing less on sharing and transmitting knowledge and more on passively consuming it. I believe intellectuals are the thought leaders of society, raising provocative questions and driving progress. However, the competitive intellectual environment often generates anxiety, causing us to question our relevance and presence. This insecurity, in turn, distances us from our initial purpose and true self. This introspective experience has shaped the foundation of my artistic practice, which explores the tension between contemporary intellectualism, knowledge systems, and artist identities, while exploring in both theology and philosophy. Today, artists are increasingly anticipated to take on the role of intellectuals. In response to these observations, I initiated a research project in 2022 titled In artists, status anxiety (renew titled The Wisiledge), examining those labeled as intellectuals, including self-proclaimed ones like myself.
Over the years, I worked across found objects, installation, writing, and visual media, to attempts to 思辨 (speculative thinking) whether this anxiety is a common psychological state within contemporary knowledge systems. In my work, I incorporate intellectual elements—such as glasses, books, speech, documents, lamps, and dialogue—on objects, captions, or titles. All interact with the works to playfully critique the texts I have gathered. Words hold inherent power, and when attached to different objects, their meaning and impact shift. The pairing of readymade and carefully selected texts reconfigures narratives, generating humorous chemistry that tells an ironic story.
In artists, status anxiety has many layers, encompassing psychological struggles, questions of intellectual identity, and the search for “true wisdom.” This project is for artists and intellectuals— the “us” who often feel lost and confused along the journey. Growing up, I received little support and often found myself facing anxiety alone. Despite constantly producing knowledge for public benefit, artists and intellectuals often have limited resources to address their emptiness. Societal norms tend to romanticize the suffering of artists and intellectuals, perpetuating the stereotype of heightened sensitivity while neglecting the need for emotional support. Through In artists, status anxiety, I wanted to respond to my most difficult times—a reminder for those facing similar struggles confused that there are ways to navigate anxiety. This project offers alternative perspectives, encouraging artists and intellectuals to prioritize the soul’s needs, before contributing value and knowledge to society and others.