╰(*8:8:8*)╯♡

Solo exhibition of the collective XVK ( Xuan Ye, Véronique Sunatori, Sara Kay Maston)
Curated by Žana Kozomora

Preston Gallery, Cambridge Art Galleries | Idea Exchange

Cambridge, ON

Preston Gallery is host to a fan base for the trio that transforms the space into a dreamy karaoke bar adorned with XVK shrine and artwork.  Visitors are invited to take the stage and witness themselves perform the collective’s silent music videos via live feed projection for their audience. Three cultivated identities fused into one, their collective emblem “Triple Happiness” evokes a pop sisterhood amplified by the hand-made production of their collectible merchandise. Their artworks engage in subversive play with references to historical tropes and pop culture trends that poke fun at the cult-like status of the self in the 21st century.

​

XVK alludes to a generation born of globalized systems, where preserving a semblance of identity is to mine from all corners of shared cultures; the superimposition of kitsch with traditional symbolisms, and the constant reworking of intangible practices of language, art, and performance in context with the increasingly fluid states of our real and virtual selves. This installation comes to realize how these tangible and virtual spaces are flooded with the very voices that step up to the platform, and vocalize their identities in ways that demand to be heard.

​

XVK (or 三喜), is an Asian-pop-girl-band-artist-trio of members Xuan Ye, Véronique Sunatori and Sara Kay Maston.

​

On June 13th 2017, the group premiered with their single “Cute Cute Manifesto Manifesto”, which peaked inside the top ten on the pineapple charts.  After releasing their first single, XVK made its major debut on July 22nd 2017 delighting hundreds when they showed up on stage at Toronto’s Big On Bloor festival to perform a surprise concert.

For their first television debut, XVK appeared on the Y+XVK=<3 talk show hosted by Tiffany Schofield at renowned Y+ Contemporary, just north east Toronto.  

​

The stars of the pop group recently released a new range of cheeky stickers, buttons, and jewelry as part of their online collection. Though it’s still early days for XVK’s merch line, the sell-out ‘Triple Happiness’ Necklaces have seen their estimated net worth double since last year prompting the band to venture into cryptocurrency – XVKcoin!