China has officially opened its first women’s art museum beside Lugu Lake in Sichuan Province. Moreover, the women’s art museum combines contemporary artistic expression with the Mosuo people’s cultural heritage. In addition, the female-focused art museum honors women artists while involving local communities in collaborative creative projects.
Lugu Lake stretches across Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and is home to nearly 50,000 Mosuo people. Furthermore, the Mosuo uphold matriarchal traditions that celebrate women’s creativity and life-giving roles. Consequently, stones, mountains, and homes often reflect feminine symbolism. Inspired by these customs, China’s first museum focused on women artists, known as MOWA, was established. Its centerpiece is Luo Mingjun’s installation La barca leggera, or the “Light Boat.” Similarly, MOWA director Luo Yi described the museum as a space where contemporary art interacts with Mosuo cultural heritage.
Although the women’s art museum highlights female artists, Luo emphasized that male artists can participate as well. For instance, the inaugural exhibition features Luo Mingjun and Swiss poet Alberto Nessi, who translated his interpretation of indigenous Chinese culture into literary works. Additionally, Luo Mingjun adapted a Mosuo pig-trough boat into her installation after visiting Walabi village. As a result, the boat, used in daily life and walking marriage ceremonies, became the basis for co-created artwork at the women’s art museum.
In addition, local Mosuo women contributed by stitching patterns into the installation with bead needles. Their designs merged traditional Mosuo textile motifs with modern symbols, such as airplanes. Similarly, co-creator Zhuoma explained that stitching felt familiar and reflected her daily life. At the same time, Luo emphasized that the stitching expresses women’s experiences and coming-of-age stories. Consequently, the museum dedicated to women artists highlights these narratives throughout its exhibitions.
Furthermore, the museum dedicated to women artists signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Carlos Marreiros, founder of the Women Artists International Biennale in Macao. Accordingly, the two organizations plan to collaborate on culture, art, architecture, and heritage preservation. In addition, UNESCO’s East Asia representative Shahbaz Khan recognized the female-focused art museum for promoting women’s empowerment and advancing sustainable development goals.
MOWA’s opening coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland. Moreover, Swiss Ambassador Jürg Burri and poet Alberto Nessi shared remarks via video. Additionally, Luo Yi announced plans for China’s first Women’s Art Archive and Research Center, housed within the women’s art museum. The archive already holds 400 publications from leading Chinese women artists.
Overall, the female-focused art museum showcases women’s creative talents, fosters cross-cultural dialogue, and enhances awareness of Mosuo traditions. Moving forward, the museum dedicated to women artists will continue involving local communities in artistic practices while safeguarding regional heritage for future generations.
