Visiting “The World in Kansas City”
Studio Inc’s spring intern, Grass Jolkowski, recently visited the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s new exhibition.
With the 2026 World Cup coming to Kansas City, The Kemper is hosting an exhibition called The World in Kansas City. With more international visitors coming to Kansas City, Jessica S. Hong, the curator of the show, wanted to showcase global artists who work, live, or were inspired by Kansas City. The work celebrates the global spirit and the local art community.
The work in the exhibition is a mix of joyful and sorrowful works, showing diverse experiences. Studio Inc’s resident artists, Hong Chun Zhang and Mikey Yates, have work in this exhibition.
Hong Chun Zhang’s work shows two large bowls, one filled with bullet shells and the other with uncooked rice, both with incense sticking out. The incense sticking out represents an offering for the dead. The smoke is displayed on the fabric behind. One of the fabrics is white, and the other is black. The bowl with the bullet shells shows violent explosions for the smoke, while the other is calm and delicate. Because of the black and white and the contrast of violent and calm, yin and yang come to mind. The amount of bullets makes me think of how much violence is happening in the world, mostly the gun violence in America. It shows the brutality and then the mourning afterwards.
Mikey Yates’ work makes you feel you're part of the painting based on the size and where you're placed within. It positions you in a store in line to check out. It’s busy with different people waiting as well. The colors are warm and bright, making an ordinary part of the day feel more colorful. As the viewer, you are placed in the work, I imagine waiting in line, and my eyes go to the cashier to see how long I’ll possibly be standing in line. You don’t see anyone’s faces, and when you do, like with the cashier, it’s undefined. Because of that it makes the painting feel like a memory. The warmth of the piece feels like reminiscing and romanticising an average outing.
The World in Kansas City will be open from March 6th through August 9th. The gallery is open from Wednesday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Thursday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm, and Friday through Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.