{"title":"Special Special","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecial Special is a creative studio, founded by Wen-You Cai, that has served many functions since its inception in 2016. As a gathering space of creative minds, we are a platform that intends to surprise, delight, and inspire through our unique perspective on everyday experiences.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom 2016 – 2022 Special Special has been a gallery, shop and producer of art editions for everyday appreciation based out of the East Village of New York City. We collaborated, curated and transformed our space for immersive exhibitions, workshops, events with a wide range of artists, designers, and creatives. All the projects during this period is now tightly encapsulated in a book we made entitled \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Small Pond Under the Blue Sky\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWen-You Cai is an artist, curator, and writer based in New York. As a Chinese, born in Japan, and raised in New York, her cross-cultural identity has been infused in all areas of her creative endeavors. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and Goldsmiths College.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 2015, she published her memoir When You Make No Art, about growing up in museums, published as an art book in English and widely distributed in art bookstores. The book has been translated into Chinese as 可不可以不艺术 and published by Imaginst Press in China.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 2016 she founded\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/specialspecial.com\/\"\u003e Special Special\u003c\/a\u003e, a shop, gallery, and a creative platform. As the director, she has produced over 40 unique collaborations with artists and makers with projects in New York, Shanghai, Taipei, and Macau. Special Special operated from an East Village storefront from 2016 to 2022, and after the closure of the space, A Small Pond Under the Blue Sky was published to commemorate the projects realized during those years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 2024, Special Special launched\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/4nmag.com\/\"\u003e 4N\u003c\/a\u003e, a magazine featuring extraordinary foreign talent in America and creative migration around the globe. Special Special continues to develop projects to foster creative communities, and is seeking opportunities for\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/specialspecial.com\/blogs\/journal\/plantresidency?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=1ae36f32c\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003e Plant Residencies\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom an early age, photography has been a means to record her existence and relationship to her environment. In 2019, Wen-You exhibited her first solo exhibition \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wenyoucai.com\/Projects\" rel=\"history\"\u003eRooster Tiger Sheep by Snake of family\u003c\/a\u003e photographs spanning twelve years at MGM COTAI, Macau, and was accompanied by a photo book of the same title. In 2024 she published \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wenyoucai.com\/Books\" rel=\"history\"\u003eMinnan Exit\u003c\/a\u003e, an archive of photographs from her family funerals in the Minnan Tradition, published by te editions. In 2026 she began examining her 30 year photography practice by juxtaposing photographs she took when she was 6 years old with her recent photos. The \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wenyoucai.com\/Projects\" rel=\"history\"\u003efirst sets of photographs\u003c\/a\u003e are exhibited at Accent Sisters, New York. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHer artworks have been exhibited at Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Xiamen, On Sundays at Watarium, Tokyo, Cafe China, NY, de Gournay NY, Accent Sisters, among other art and cultural institutions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eView featured documentary videos on her work on \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nowness.com\/series\/photographers-in-focus\/wen-you-cai\"\u003eNowness\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DB9aOTLxv97\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link\u0026amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\"\u003eJNBY\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"4n-mag-issue-1","title":"4N Magazine Issue 1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe artists featured in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e4N\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e issue 1 consist of ten foreign creatives currently based across the United States, hailing from China, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam. They have diverse disciplines including conceptual art, film, painting, illustration, bookmaking, photography, and tea ceremony performance. All of them came to the United States for their studies, where they honed their skills and talents. Since then, they have expanded their horizons to share their unique voices with the international community, both in the United States and around the world. We are proud to present them as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e4N\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003eers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtists Featured:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eYanbin Zhao\u003cbr\u003eKenix Xiaoqing Liang\u003cbr\u003eVyolet Jin\u003cbr\u003eWeiyun Chen\u003cbr\u003eAnh Lê\u003cbr\u003eYi Hsuan Lai\u003cbr\u003eTaole Zhu\u003cbr\u003eFía Benitez\u003cbr\u003eKeiko Taniguch\u003cbr\u003eMichelle Eun Jung Ho\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cslot name=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccolumn-unit slot=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/column-unit\u003e\u003c\/slot\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AccentSisters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46935563730996,"sku":null,"price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/3395\/5892\/files\/4N-Liberty_1296x_31db356a-1994-4e9d-a362-b3ec8c58c1fe.webp?v=1751498946"},{"product_id":"4n-issue-3","title":"4N Magazine Issue 3","description":"\u003cp\u003e4N is a biannual community magazine showcasing extraordinary foreign talent in America. his issue features twelve creatives from Colombia, China, Turkey, Taiwan, and Pakistan, working in a wide range of disciplines, from illustration, journalism, and set design, to graphic design, books, film, and performance. This issue includes guest editor Annette An-Jen Liu, and a new section called Foreigners in Foreign Places.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeatured artists in Issue 3 include Barbie Kim, Xuezhu Jenny Wang, Zhanyi Chen, Renee Yu Jin, Chen Gao, Susana Gomez, Jafri aka MadFree, Yulanda Yo-Rong Shieh, Mengru Zhou, Zeynep Elif Ergin, Michelle Ma, Xinyi Liu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRelease: June 2025\u003cbr\u003eISSN: 2995-7419\u003cbr\u003eEdition of 500\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AccentSisters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47195385954356,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/3395\/5892\/files\/16.24.37PM_1024x1024_2x_0acf0921-b511-4043-812f-9d129f975245.webp?v=1760824925"},{"product_id":"4n-magazine-issue-5","title":"4N Magazine Issue 5","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiscover your Alias!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis issue features 11 extraordinary international talents showcasing their work and their interpretation of this issue's theme: Alias. Drawing from backgrounds in China, Egypt, France, Morocco, South Korea, and Taiwan, these artists work in mediums ranging from visual art and new media to performance and street scouting. This cohort was guest-edited by 4N alumna Fía Benitez. Additional features include interviews with artists and specialists, covering topics in the realms of astrocartography, personal branding, design, and travel. Each issue comes with a sticker of wigs (iykyk!)  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4N Issue 5 Extraordinary Talents:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBomin Ahn, Yi-Han Audrey Chou, Karis Huang, Julia Hung,\u003cbr\u003eEunice Jung, Kasper Klop, Yasmine Laraqui, Mingna Li,\u003cbr\u003eNana Said, Wei, Zihan Yang\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdditional Interviews with:\u003cbr\u003eGia Kuan, Jennifer Vesta, Misha Japanwala, John Yuyi,\u003cbr\u003eMark Foss, Liang-Jung Chen, Annette An-Jen Liu\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AccentSisters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48102905643060,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/3395\/5892\/files\/4N05_Launch_3.png?v=1786905112"},{"product_id":"rooster-tiger-sheep-by-snake","title":"Wen-You Cai: Rooster Tiger Sheep by Snake","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a photo book by Special Special founder and director Wen-You Cai, that captures her father, mother, and sister over a period of twelve years. Tracing the dynamics of these three immediate members of her family through travels, jet-lag, at parties, at work, on vacation, and at home. These vibrant images follow intimate moments of play, ritualistic practices, and emotional ennui. The second edition features an additional family photograph at the end. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy Wen-You Cai\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesigned by Seokhoon Choi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSecond Edition of 500,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished by Special Special, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginally produced on the occasion of \u003ci\u003eTiger, Rooster, Sheep, by Snake\u003c\/i\u003e, Wen-You's first solo photography exhibition at MGM COTAI, Macau in 2019. The exhibition was presented alongside a Special Special pop up at the same venue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOffset printing in full color\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaperback\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLanguages: English and Traditional Chinese\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e172 pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9.5 × 7 in.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AccentSisters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48102981926964,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/3395\/5892\/files\/RTSS_Cover_DSC5958_2_web_1296x_3dae039e-09ea-4a60-abcb-ed46b8899209.jpg?v=1786907549"},{"product_id":"when-you-make-no-art","title":"Wen-You Cai: When You Make No Art","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-lightbox__column product-lightbox__column--last\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"lightbox__description p\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWen-You Cai shares an autobiographical account of moving to America as a child, and growing up in the art world. Each chapter holds inspirations and vignettes from museums, travels, and random encounters around the world that inspired her later endeavors with the formation of Special Special as an art project space and community platform. Cai conceptualizes the idea of a “reluctant artist,” or someone who is immersed in the arts but has trouble making work. The third edition includes a preface written by the author reflecting on this book ten years later. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-lightbox__shelves\" id=\"product-lightbox__shelves\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"shelf products shelf--also-by-this-artist\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy Wen-You Cai\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesigned by Seokhoon Choi\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2025, Third edition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinted in black and white on purple paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaperback\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e276 pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6.8 × 4.3 in.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"AccentSisters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48102982025268,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/3395\/5892\/files\/WYMNA_3_1_1296x_31f37f5a-a746-46c8-b2a8-d96c71ed6844.jpg?v=1786904929"},{"product_id":"minnan-exit-不辞而别-蔡文悠","title":"Minnan Exit 不辞而别, Wen-You Cai","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince 2015, Wen-You Cai has returned on multiple occasions to her parents' hometown of Quanzhou, Fujian, to attend the funerals of her deceased relatives. The ceremonies in the Minnan region unfold like grand dramas in which she is both an observer and a participant. Throughout the ceremony, Wen-You is enveloped in the unknown; everything seems meticulously arranged. Amidst the overwhelming grief of losing loved ones, there exists a feeling of confusion, and taking photographs was one of the ways for her to engage in the funeral process. For this photo series, Wen-You was initially confronted by her own fear of death, intertwined with her bewilderment and curiosity about the complex funeral rituals and its uniqueness inherent to Minnan culture. To demystify these subjects, Wen-You, joined by te editions, interviewed a funeral director who provides comprehensive “one-stop services,” a monk who hosts Buddhist ceremonies, and a folklorist of Minnan rituals. Minnan Exit can be interpreted as many things–a family album, a curated collection of photographs, an unfinished journey of discovery, as well as the process of  Wen-You's reconciliation with her mortality. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eMinnan Exit\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was designed by an independent graphic design studio, RELATED DEPARTMENT. Through the artist's lens, the design team sought inspiration from funeral objects and rituals, to create a visual concept for the publication's structure and layout with the regional characteristics of Minnan.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eMinnan Exit 不辞而别\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e21 × 27.5cm\u003cbr\u003e192 p\u003cbr\u003eChinese, English\u003cbr\u003eOffset Printing, Thread-bound\u003cbr\u003eFirst Published in 2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAuthor and Photographer: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/wenyoucai.com\/\"\u003eWen-You Cai\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEditors: Michael Guo, Kechun Qin\u003cbr\u003eDesigner: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.related.design\/department\/\"\u003eRelated Department\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAward:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/mp.weixin.qq.com\/s\/-S093vX5mhq54bqW6xeUxQ\"\u003eAward360° Book Design Shortlist\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePress:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nowness.com\/series\/photographers-in-focus\/wen-you-cai\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eNowness\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/te-editions.com\/minnan-exit#\" rel=\"add-to-cart\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eNowness China\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collectordaily.com\/wen-you-cai-minnan-exit\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eCollector Daily\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/mp.weixin.qq.com\/s\/VcTqpcI1gP0C4AZ9wW1j_A\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eLife and Arts 集锦\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/impulsemagazine.com\/symposium\/cinema-supply-lost-and-found\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eIMPULSE\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AccentSisters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48102983368756,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0608\/3395\/5892\/files\/minnan-exit-cover.jpg?v=1786904691"}],"url":"https:\/\/accentsisters.myshopify.com\/collections\/special-special.oembed","provider":"AccentSisters","version":"1.0","type":"link"}