Traces of Being: Stories in Ink and Coffee

If you're looking for something thoughtful to check out next month, the Phoenix Art Space is hosting a new exhibition called Traces of Being: Stories in Ink and Coffee. Running from February 6th to March 1st in the Window Gallery, this show features the work of Chinese-born artist Xin Harper-Little. Her practice is centered on exploring emotion and the idea of human imperfection as something essential, using a fascinating combination of materials. She uses the fluid lines of ink, which brings discipline and tradition, layered with washes of coffee. The coffee, drawn from a daily ritual, adds warmth, intimacy, and unpredictability to the pieces. It’s a deliberate choice to affirm the importance of slowing down and working by hand and heart in a world dominated by digital speed, honoring the irregularities and pauses in the process.

The exhibition itself runs for most of February, starting on the 6th and closing on March 1st. If you want to catch it early, there’s a free Preview Evening on Thursday, February 5th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The gallery, located at 10–14 Waterloo Place, is open daily, generally from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and until 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. It’s worth noting that the ground floor, where the galleries and café are, is wheelchair accessible. Xin Harper-Little, who was born in the Year of the Horse, has also included new paintings inspired by the spirit of the Fire Horse—symbolizing vitality and transformation—which ties in nicely with the current Chinese New Year celebrations.

Beyond the main exhibition, Xin is also hosting a free associated event: the Ink and Coffee Creative Workshop. This is happening later in the month, on Friday, February 27th, in the Red Room. There are three 50-minute sessions available that afternoon: 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. While the workshop is free and open to all skill levels, you do need to book a spot beforehand. If you plan on bringing children under 16, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and you need to reserve places for both the child and the accompanying adult.