Navigating the In-Between: A Review of The Age of (Un)Innocence by Danielle Lin by Amir Amin

The Age of (Un)Innocence is the title of Danielle Lin’s first solo exhibition—a title that raises intriguing questions. Innocence is a familiar concept, especially for those who are more "mature" and often associate it with youth. For many adults, innocence is inextricably linked to the simplicity and purity of childhood.

Danielle, now 23 years old, finds herself at an age that marks a significant shift between childhood and adulthood. For those in their twenties, there is often a sense of being “in-between”—no longer a child, but not fully recognized as an adult either. Through her work, Danielle captures this bewildering journey from childhood to adulthood, reflecting the complex and often absurd nature of reality. During this transition, moments we once believed to be true can start to feel uncertain. This uncertainty fills many young adults with self-doubt, prompting them to second-guess themselves and the world, as it rarely aligns with the expectations they once held. Danielle’s series examines a young adult’s awakening to a world where even the most beloved community members face unexpected misfortunes, and opportunities aren’t always earned, but often given due to “connections” (coughing... "cable"… more coughing). Through her paintings, Danielle challenges viewers to reconsider the reliability of the structures around us, inviting reflection on a society that can sometimes feel as arbitrary as a child’s dream after a sugar rush.

The Dissection | Acrylic on canvas | 61 cm x 92 cm | 2024

In her work, Danielle uses dolls, teddy bears, and occasional self-portraits set against a dreamlike color scheme of muted pinks and blues. These elements offer exaggerated portrayals of real-life situations within surreal, whimsical landscapes. Her gentle shading, pastel tones, and the contrast between comforting and unsettling imagery bear similarities to Magritte’s juxtapositions, Dalí’s dreamlike absurdities, Kahlo’s symbolic and unsettling self-portraits, and Ryden’s soft yet provocative symbolism. While Danielle doesn’t imitate these artists, her work offers a contemporary nod to surrealist traditions through a distinctively modern and introspective lens. This approach not only reflects the confusion and enthusiasm of young adulthood but also pays homage to surrealist traditions, reimagined through Danielle's introspective and contemporary lens.

Lunch | Acrylic on canvas | 61 cm x 92 cm | 2024

Eggshell Sunset | Acrylic on canvas | 92 cm x 122 cm | 2024

Through The Age of (Un)Innocence, Danielle invites viewers to explore the exhibition as a lens into the surreal, “in-between” space of young adulthood, capturing its blend of confusion, excitement, and unsettling realizations. With playful yet subtly disconcerting scenes, she challenges us to rethink the reliability of the structures we grew up trusting as the familiar begins to feel foreign. Her work becomes a journey into the layered reality of growing up, encouraging us to find clarity in contradictions and to embrace the mystery, even when life doesn’t quite make sense.

Exhibition view, courtesy of Core Design Gallery

Exhibition view, courtesy of Core Design Gallery

You can visit The Age of (Un)Innocence from 5th - 29th November 2024 at Core Design Gallery @ SJCC Gallery (Lot 72027, Jalan SS 16/1, SS 16, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor), open Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am - 6:00 pm.