Tears of Venus is pleased to present our second show, Retold Desires: Works in Fiber by Tien of The World and Kay Khan. This exhibition brings together the work of two textile artists who utilize storytelling via fabrics, thread, and fibers to work and rework their narratives and transform their life stories. “The Heaviness of Healing” is a collection of eight weavings by L.A.-based artist Tien of The World. This work was done over the span of a year and made from the artist's own intimate apparel, clothing she received as gifts from ex-relationships, other personal garments, and her artist tools like paintbrushes and knitting needles. Not simply materials these objects each hold a very personal meaning for the artist and carry the history of projections, persona, illness, attachment, sorrow, heartbreak, and fantasy. Through the process of weaving these elements are reworked into wall hangings that both transform the physical shape of the objects but also transmute their emotional meaning. The work becomes a blueprint for the artist, a map to consider the realities of the past, the effects they have taken, and the path to move forward into the future. Two polaroid portraits of the artist wearing the garments before they were deconstructed accompa- ny each piece. These photographs help to transport the viewer to the artist's past personas. "The Resilience of Roses Project" is a body of work by New Mexico-based artist Kay Khan consisting of 3 wearable armored bodices. The artist uses the metaphor of the complex qualities of roses - sweetness, delicateness, and the strength of their thorns - to express her experience living with MS. The corsets contain, protect, and shape the artist’s mind and the wearer’s body. As wearable sculptures, these works symbolize personal strength, beauty, balance, and structure in equal measure, in the face of life's chal- lenges. A total of 5 wearable artworks by Khan are included in Retold Desires, alongside a selection of fiber sculptures from past collections. In a time of cultural distractions, Tears of Venus is inspired by artists who spend time contemplating and focusing deeply on their process. Please join us for two opening parties celebrating the artist's work. Tears of Venus is a creative space and gallery in Hollywood that values artful style, self-expression, recy- cling/upcycling, storytelling, and process. We have a curated selection of vintage clothing, jewelry, and historic textiles, for the discerning and inspired. Come as you are - we enjoy all the many ways people express themselves through clothing and style. Tien of The World is a Vietnamese multidisciplinary artist specializing in upcycled and reclaimed textile work. She is a hairstylist as well and is known for her gender-affirming haircuts and colors. Originally from the bible belt, she carved her own lane into Los Angeles. Tien is an anti-capitalist, abolitionist and an advocate for marginalized communities, specifically queer artists, sex workers, and people of color. This is the second showing of this body of work. Kay Khan's textile sculpture explores a variety of forms including vessels, armor, jewelry, and figures. She sees her work as a “mosaic of fragments, collected experiences, information, and images." Her sculptural work is in numerous collections including those of de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA; Museum of Art and Design, New York City, NY; The New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM; Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI; Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, AZ; and the Albuquerque Museum, Albuquer- que, NM. @tearsofvenuscurated @kaykhanart @tienoftheworld www.tearsofvenuscurated.com www.kaykhanart.com www.tienoftheworld.com