LOY LUO THEORETICAL COLLECTION
ISSN [TBD] (Online series)
To be endorsed, or not to be endorsed? — The Inner
Field of Legitimacy in Contemporary Art
Loy Luo
Curatorial Essay, First published in Loy Luo Theoretical Collection, 2025
Abstract
This essay is included in the Loy Luo Theoretical Collection as part of the artist’s ongoing exploration of legitimacy and autonomy within the contemporary art field. Through the exhibition “To be Endorsed, or Not to be Endorsed? — The Inner Field of Legitimacy in Contemporary Art” (Loy Luo Space, 2025), the artist transforms curatorial practice into a form of philosophical inquiry — questioning the institutional structures that define visibility, value, and the self-legitimating potential of art.
Rather than rejecting the system, the exhibition seeks a new equilibrium between structure and existence, proposing a model of “internal endorsement” grounded in history, culture, and the continuity of artistic spirit.
Keywords
Keywords: endorsement; legitimacy; field; Bourdieu; self-legitimacy; internal endorsement; autonomy; visibility; institutional critique; existence; curatorial philosophy; Loy Luo; contemporary art; Chinese culture; ontology of art; New York
DOI: [TBD]
Biographical Note
Loy Luo is a contemporary artist, curator, and writer based in New York. Her practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, and theory, exploring the philosophical and cultural dimensions of abstraction. She is the founder of Loy Luo Space (Tribeca, NYC), an independent “Open Theater” dedicated to experimental exhibitions and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Banner image: Installation View from To be endorsed, or not to be endorsed? — The Inner Field of Legitimacy in Contemporary Art, featuring works by Loy Luo at Loy Luo Space, New York, 2025.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0