Chen Shiying is a leading artist in the field of jewelry today, and a representative of unique and innovative technologies, and in recent years, his explorations in the fields of visual arts, large-scale sculptures, and public installations have further expanded his artistic reputation. Following the large-scale titanium sculpture exhibition "Titanium: Dialogue between Matter and Time and Space" in 2021, Chen Shiying returned to Venice to launch his solo art exhibition "Totem" during the 59th Venice Biennale, which opened today, presenting large titanium sculptures in the form of large-scale site-specific installations.
Illustration: Exhibition site Official picture (the same below)
Inspired by primitive times, "TOTEM" connects different dimensions of philosophy, including reverence for the natural world and excavation of the inner spirituality of sculptural matter. One of the large-scale installations was exhibited last year in the central exhibition area of ART021 shanghai, a 10-meter-high titanium sculpture "Titanium XIV, Dialogue between Matter and Time", this time with sculptural parts scattered in the space of the 15th-century Italian ancient building Fondaco Marcello. The sense of power of Chen Shiying's large-scale installation does not come from a single image, but is generated by the combined relationship between multiple parts. After dismantling, the integrity of the sculpture ceases to exist, suggesting the fragility and imbalance of the past cosmic order, and the work infiltrates the reflection on the common problems facing human beings such as climate change. Uncombined iron beams and intricately carved titanium heads are scattered in the ground space, allowing the viewer to approach the elements in the sculpture from different angles at close range, and the experience of walking in the deconstructed sculpture evokes the viewer's new understanding of space. The exhibition also shows an assembly drawing instructing how to install the sculpture as a whole, alluding to the hope of reorganization, connection and rebalancing.
Chen Shiying's unique choice of creative materials stems from a philosophical recognition of elements: he places iron representing the past and titanium representing the future in the same work. Titanium, a "space metal", is light, strong and corrosion resistant, and is widely used in aerospace and energy and chemical fields. Titanium will not change much after hundreds of years, iron will rust and there will be traces of time; titanium is light, iron is heavy; titanium is surreal, iron is ancient; titanium suggests some kind of upward and ethereal existence, iron clinging to the ground, subordinate to the earth... The rich color of titanium is an important medium for jewelry design. With titanium as the backbone of jewelry, Chen Shiying enriched the creative means of jewelry art, creating amazing works - a wearable carved art that does not sacrifice the comfort of wearing, but also makes the art both futuristic and timeless. Chen Shiying expanded the creative space of titanium as a material material, he regarded titanium as a "mentor", 20 years ago he began to explore titanium sculpture, excavating the application of new materials in the field of art.
Pictured: Chen Shiying
Known for her jewelry creations, Chen Shiying was the first contemporary Chinese jewelry artist to be included in the British Museum's collection. Last year, Christie's Shanghai Art Space and ART021 Shanghai showcased his jewelry and sculptures in all directions. Chen Shiying told reporters: "The concept of the exhibition comes from my personal contemplation and curiosity about the mysteries of life, nature and the universe. I focus on exploring the mysteries of matter and form, as well as understanding the difference between imaginary space and real physical matter. ”
Curated by British curator James Putnam, the exhibition says: "This exhibition is related to the basic principle of totemism, namely that there is a consistent spiritual connection between humans and Mother Nature, and that cooperation must be made in order to coexist. The peaceful, unfathomable facial contours depicted in Chen Shiying's sculptures represent mystery, a totem that expresses a transcendental state of absolute oneness. "The exhibition will run until October 23, 2022. (Xinmin Evening News reporter Le Mengrong)