Ai An's solo exhibition "Art Alchemy" recently opened in East Keien. Located at 23 Songzhu Temple in Dongcheng District, this contemporary art space has a traditional appearance and atmosphere. But when you step into the exhibition site, you will find that it is quite a good fit with Ai An's work. They all draw energy from the past in time and space – on one side are ancient Chinese architecture, while on the other side are tempera painting methods that have been popular from antiquity to the height of the Renaissance.
The exhibition features nearly 20 works by Ai An, spanning 30 years, from Tanbera's early work "Anecdotes" exhibited at the CAFA Graduation Exhibition in 1989 to his new work "The Castle" in 2022. As Ai Ann himself put it, the exhibition is like a miniature personal retrospective. These nearly 20 works, like the album of life, are an overview of his exploration of painting and the mind over the years.
Artist Ayn says Tempera's approach to painting makes her painting process quiet and long, "a state that is more consistent with an underlying trait in my personality, seeking a most natural state and a plain way of life that has perhaps always been an indispensable part of my life." ＂
Du Xiyun, the curator of this exhibition, believes that Ai'an's works integrate contemporary issues and classical temperament, and the reality and imagination interpenetrate each other, expressing his rich and meaningful feelings, which makes his works have complex tensions. The origins of Tempera's technology have a distinct sense of religion. Ai'an appeals his feelings about the outside world to a Magritte-like surreal grammar, like the "pipe" in "This Is Not a Pipe": "When you can't express your mood, you can only express your wishes in some more obscure language." I feel that when history is alluded to an individual, there is always something similar that will appear in any corner of your life. "The exhibition will run until May 24.
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Wang Yan