Dear Shaded viewers,
Yesterday, I had the pleasure to visit the Hoang Beli Gallery, located in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement, to see the exhibition “A room of One’s own” by Kim Cruz.
Kim Cruz is a visual artist from Manila, in the Philippines. She later settled in Los Angeles, then in Lisbon, and finally in Paris, where she currently continues her artistic practice.
At the entrance of the gallery, a series of the artist’s drawings are displayed; downstairs, an in situ installation forms the heart of the exhibition. Kim Cruz drew inspiration from Virginia Woolf’s seminal essay « A Room of One’s Own ». The work evokes the necessity of a private and sacred space as an essential condition of creative freedom and intellectual autonomy. Cruz appropriates the space, presenting creation not as a single moment, but as an ongoing inner process where memory, emotion, and thought converge.
The artist’s personal bedroom, at the core of the exhibition, is composed of unfinished canvases, crossed-out works, and personal objects. Cruz offers a sincere insight into the creative process, affirming her practice as an act of courage and authenticity.
By deepening Woolf’s ideas and moving from a book to an installation, the artist reflects on her own journey, emphasizing that her artistic career took root in the sanctuary of her bedroom. This intimate space, often considered a safe refuge, allows her an authentic expression of herself, free from external judgment and social constraints.
You can visit the exhibition till the 28th of February 2026.
Sincerely,
Alex.
