AYA Salon Series 2025: Across the Lines – Art in Conversation
In a world where artistic boundaries are dissolving, the AYA Salon Series 2025: Across the Lines – Art in Conversation brought together visionary creators from fashion, film, lighting, music, dance, and digital arts for an afternoon of dialogue and discovery in Midtown Manhattan on October 19, 2025.
Hosted by the American Young Artists Association (AYA), the private salon celebrated cross-disciplinary artistry and cultural exchange in an intimate setting, inviting audiences to experience how creative collaboration and light reveal new perspectives on identity and expression.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Candice Liang, followed by greetings from AYA representatives and sponsor OSSC, whose support made the gathering possible. The highlight of the afternoon was the 90-minute panel discussion “Beyond Frames,” which featured fast-paced dialogue, live demonstrations, and audience interaction — all designed to explore how artistic intersections unlock new ways of seeing and creating.
Panel Highlights
The discussion “Illuminating Identity – The Intersection of Art, Fashion & Media” unfolded through three dynamic rounds:
Round 1 – “Seeing vs. Being Seen” examined vulnerability and visibility across performance, moderated by Candice Liang with contributions from actors, dancers, and public figures.
Round 2 – “Whose Space Is It?” investigated spatial authorship and the relationship between sound, architecture, and identity, featuring architects, music producers, and filmmakers.
Round 3 – “Reconstructing Perception Between Virtual and Reality” focused on how designers use intangible materials — light, code, and motion — to shape emotion and narrative.
The session also featured the screening of “True View”, an experimental dance film hosted by Elaine Du with Siyan Liu, which redefined how embodied emotion and performance are captured on screen.
A closing dialogue, “Borderless Identity: Reconstructing the Body of Culture in Flux,” with Djassi DaCosta Johnsonoffered a powerful reflection on cross-cultural identity, globalization, and how art traverses borders while preserving its roots.
Networking & Art Exchange
The evening concluded with a Networking and Art Exchange Cocktail Hour, where artists and guests shared perspectives and forged new collaborations. The atmosphere captured AYA’s vision of fostering meaningful dialogue between disciplines and generations — a living testament to the organization’s mission of turning artistic connection into shared experience.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to OSSC for their generous support,
and to American Young Artists Association (AYA) for connecting creativity across generations.
Photography & Media Support: Jerry
Visual Design: MZ