{"id":41412,"date":"2018-08-22T19:34:27","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T23:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artoronto.ca\/?p=41412"},"modified":"2018-08-22T20:16:45","modified_gmt":"2018-08-23T00:16:45","slug":"emergence-a-contemporary-chinese-art-exhibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v2.artoronto.ca\/?p=41412","title":{"rendered":"Emergence – A Contemporary Chinese Art Exhibition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Emergence – A Contemporary Chinese Art Exhibition<\/em> is a collective show hosted by Emerging Young Artists (EYA), a non-profit Toronto-based organization, in co-operation with the Beijing Hanwei International Art Centre. This exhibition presents 19 works by eight high-profile Chinese artists in multiple mediums: Zhang Chunhua, Zhou Song, Li Hongbo, Wang Fei, Li Wang, Jia Shanguo, Jia Xinyu, Yang Shuwen. Zhang Siyong, the curator of the show, stated that they attempt to provide a new and unconventional view of art from modern China to the Canadian audiences. The exhibition focuses on interpreting the idea of \u2018emergence\u2019 by exploring multiple possibilities of contemporary Chinese art.<\/p>\n

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Artists (L-R): Yang Shuwen, Jia Shanguo, Zhou Song, Zhang Siyong (curator), Wu Hongbin (academic advisor), Zhang Chunhua, Li Hongbo, Jia Xinyu. Photo: Iris Wu<\/p>\n

Though the exact word has never appeared on any of the exhibited artworks, \u2018identity\u2019 turns out to be the major subject of this show. Some works directly reveal the Oriental identity by either depicting a Chinese subject matter or using materials that can only be found there. Li Wang, whose works are internationally exhibited, is a professor at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, specialized in printmaking. Li stated, that in his works he wants to show how the traditional cultural elements influence the life in modern China. Xiang<\/em> depicts a fictional scene where three men are watching some creatures on the table: crickets, horses, bird and birdcage, lotus seed pod – that might belong to fairy tales. A small skyscraper on the bottom of the painting brings the present time in; showing that past and present can coexist in harmony.<\/p>\n

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Li Wang, Xiang, 2018, ink on paper, 69 x 68 cm. Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

Jia Shanguo turned back to a historical literary tradition when he selected the Tao Te Ching<\/em> in Song Ke Ma Sha Version, magnified and re-carved it. He treasured the Chinese traditions when he used the original philosophical idea and writing and rubbing methods – that in this much larger size becomes monumental.<\/p>\n

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Yin and Yang is called dao as the artist Jia Shanguo explained it to guests. Photo: Iris Wu<\/p>\n

Zhou Song also addresses technology but from the opposite view point of human spirituality and tradition, from the future of artificial intelligence and pure mechanical development – looking at a new world we can’t even imagine, as yet.<\/p>\n

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Zhou Song, Entropy No.8, 2018, oil on canvas, 100 x 100 x 141 cm.\u00a0Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

Wang Fei on his two panels, This World<\/em>, combines mythological creatures with geographical features, constructing a continuous narrative. When you take a closer look, you will be surprised to find some words on the body of the wounded man: \u2018Will v.s. Will\u2019, and \u20182012\u2019. As art critic, Peng Feng pointed out: Wang Fei\u2019s works filled with a \u201csurreal sense of fantasy, of vitality, of a strong power, and a super sense of sanctity\u201c as he \u201ctransforms reality into ideal, and freezes the temporary as eternity \u2026\u201d The work also reminds me of an \u2018apocalypse\u2019 \u2013 past or coming.<\/p>\n

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Wang Fei,\u00a0This World , (top) and This World 2, both 2012 acrylic on canvas, 150 x 40 cm.\u00a0Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

While Wang Fei is focusing on universal issues of human kind, Zang Chunhua turns his attention to personal impressions and memories of art; to an era that part of the past. Even those times would never come back and the distance between our time and of those can’t be bridged – they live forever in the artist’s mind.<\/p>\n

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Zang Chunhua, The sight of his back, 2017, mixed media on canvas, 100 x 80 cm.\u00a0Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

I found Li Hongbo\u2019s paper sculpture, Tools of Study \u2013 Voltaire<\/em>, very interesting. The head of Voltaire can be transformed into an abstract paper toy by stretching the material out.<\/p>\n

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Li Hongbo with Tools of study – Voltaire, 2015, paper sculpture, dimensions variable. Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

Yang Shuwen\u2019s oil painting Heaven Eyes<\/em> is mesmerizing. The artist plays with the idea of different dimensions in space and time as she captures the busy cityscape, where rich and poor share the environment, with shining colors.<\/p>\n

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Yang Shuwen, Heaven Eyes, 2018, oil on canvas, 160 x 160 cm.\u00a0Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

Ambiguity is the main element of Jia Xinyu’s semi-abstract paintings. As she stated they have no beginning or ending but aim to capture a “vague betweenness.”<\/p>\n

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Jia Xinyu, Square game, 2018, oil on canvas, 100 x 200 cm. Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

For the eight Chinese exhibiting artists, \u2018Emergence\u2019 is the first Canadian exhibition they were invited to present their works. By sharing their cultural traditions, exposing their artistic ideas in new forms, those artists provide us with a wide view of contemporary Chinese art.<\/p>\n

Iris Wu<\/p>\n

Featured image: Opening reception, August 11, 2018. Courtesy of EYA<\/p>\n

*Exhibition information: August 11 – 21, 2018, Toronto Center for the Arts, Lower Gallery, 5040 Young Street, Toronto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Iris Wu<\/strong><\/p>\n

By sharing their cultural traditions, exposing their artistic ideas in new forms, those artists provide us with a wide view of contemporary Chinese art.<\/p>\n

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