Artist and faculty member Tongji Philip Qian created the pieces in Alloyed Commitments through collaboration beyond the art studio.
by Andrea Reed-Leal, PhD Candidate Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Studies
Currently on view at the Logan Center Gallery through December 7, Alloyed Commitments by Tongji Philip Qian offers a layered reflection on making, meaning, and collaboration in contemporary art. Curated by Andrew Witkin, the exhibition extends Qian’s long-standing inquiry into notions of productivity, artistic collaboration, and legibility.
Here are four key themes to help guide your experience of the exhibition—followed by insights from the artist:
1. Alloyed Media
The exhibition showcases diverse materials, including leather, textiles, handwriting, wall paintings, and video. Phil’s approach blurs boundaries between media, treating each surface as a space where questions of access, legibility, and structure unfold. The combination of elements mirrors the exhibition’s title, suggesting both confusion and tension.
2. Authorship
Phil’s process-based practice embraces showcasing the collaborating process. He notes that in Chinese art, collaboration often centers on shared purpose rather than the individual recognition emphasized in Western art. Drawing on cross-cultural experiences, the author reflects on how these different ideas of authorship and collectivity shape the creation, organization, and reception of art in both contexts.
Collaboration is central to Alloyed Commitments. Qian’s dog, Grappa, operates a video camera; his mother and partner contribute drawings; and natural forces like sunlight shape tanned leather pieces. Through these varied contributors, Qian challenges the notion of singular authorship, turning artmaking into a shared act of observation and production.
3. Time
Phil also explores the elasticity of time through an unusual ritual: making art during the extra hour created by Daylight Saving Time. Each year, between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m., the artist captures this “no-risk hour” as both lived experience and conceptual structure. The resulting works examine how social constructs—like timekeeping—govern everyday life and the making of art.
4. Commitments
The title Alloyed Commitments reflects Phil’s nuanced sense of humility and self-reflection rather than certainty. He embraces confusion as a positive element that invites openness and complexity in understanding art. Ultimately, the title gestures toward a nuanced idea of commitment—one that acknowledges doubt, personal relationships, and varying degrees of dedication within the artistic process.
Alloyed Commitments engages in dialogue across materials, inviting viewers to reflect on what it means to create and share art in the present moment. Be sure to visit the exhibition before it closes on December 7!
The full interview will be available to watch coming soon!
