Walls Whisper and Wink: Folding Screens in the Spotlight Again

A folding screen might look like a simple room divider, but its story zigzags through centuries and cultures. Once prized in ancient China as objects for contemplation, these portable walls soon traveled the world, shifting from symbols of power and privacy to canvases for artistic rebellion. Today, artists like Ghada Amer and Lisa Brice turn screens into bold statements—sometimes casting them in bronze, sometimes painting them with figures that refuse to hide. Instead of shielding secrets, these screens now spotlight what society often tucks away, especially around ideas of femininity and visibility. Exhibitions from Milan to New York now pair ornate, gilded antiques with contemporary works that poke fun at modesty, challenge gendered expectations, or echo the digital screens that fill our lives. Whether revealing, concealing, or simply demanding a second look, folding screens have become unlikely icons in the ongoing conversation about what we show—and what we choose to hide. In a world obsessed with screens, it’s the oldest ones that still know how to steal the scene. #FoldingScreens #ContemporaryArt #CulturalHeritage #Culture