Yang Dongbai and Shi Jinsong are representatives of artists in the field of contemporary Chinese sculpture. On April 26th, Jiushi Art Space at No. 18 on the Bund held "No Man's Land: Yang Dongbai and Shi Jinsong Sculpture Double Solo Exhibition", exhibiting a total of 30 groups (pieces) of works by the two artists.
As one of the most important sculpture art exhibitions in Shanghai this year, the exhibition takes "No Man's Land" as the theme, and explores the harmonious coexistence of man and nature in the realm of "selflessness" through the works of Yang Dongbai and Shi Jinsong, which is also a tribute to the spirit of traditional Chinese philosophy.
Born in Shanghai in 1959 to an artistic family, Yang Dongbai has been exposed to the influence of art and the nourishment of traditional culture since childhood. In the early 90s of the last century, Yang Dongbai went to Japan for further study, and many overseas art masterpieces made him see a broader art world, and formed his own unique artistic style - he is good at transforming materials into works full of literati temperament and emotion.
His latest work "Quiet Scenery in the Empty Mountain" is Yang Dongbai's profound embodiment of the concept of "rule by doing nothing". According to the curator Ren Xiaolu, "Empty Mountain Jingyi" uses the abstract modeling of landscapes and figures, the uncontrollable inflatable expansion of metal materials, and the free flow of water-based paint on the works, which intends to express Yang Dongbai's understanding of the Taoist spirit of "rule by inaction" and "the unity of heaven, earth and man".
Yang Dongbai is adept at using different materials and techniques to explore the limits of material form and spatial sense, often combining elements of nature and artificial materials to create works of art that have a sense of expansion and suspension, as well as the characteristics of abstract expressionism. "The glazed sculpture "Lying in the Mountains and Rivers" is nearly 3 meters long, and it is a work made by Yang Dongbai after only one turnover, "Yang Dongbai likes landscape painting very much, and he uses skills to make the plane landscape into a two-dimensional landscape, and the shadow of the landscape will be shown by the illumination of the spotlight, which is the three-dimensional landscape in his heart." ”
Shi Jinsong, who is from Hubei and was also born in an artistic family, is ten years younger than Yang Dongbai. After graduating from Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Shi Jinsong embarked on a journey of artistic exploration, from sculpture, installation, painting, performance, architecture, and video, to theatrical experimentation, conceptual design, and multimedia video.
The materials used in Shi Jinsong's works are usually things that can be found everywhere in daily life, such as old tree roots, broken Buddha statues, old furniture, electrical appliances, toys, books, etc., which have been reshaped, reorganized, assembled and shaped into his own symbols and symbols.
Shi Jinsong's new work "Structure" is composed of a number of tree roots with a sense of line. "These roots are only exposed to our eyes in the event of an earthquake or mudslide. Shi Jinsong used these roots to build modules with curved and rectangular structures, and combined the civilization structure that he thought was suitable for the future development of mankind. ”
It is worth mentioning that the exhibition is equipped with a flashlight for "Structure", so that the audience can pick up the flashlight to focus on the part of the work and construct the perfect social structure in their minds.
Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum is committed to providing a platform for cooperation and exchange between cross-regional and interdisciplinary multicultural creators. Through the works of the two artists, especially the newly created sculpture series "Empty Mountain Tranquility" and "Structure", the audience is led to explore the realm of "selflessness" in traditional Chinese philosophy, and to carry out a dialogue between thought and art.
The exhibition is organized by Shanghai Jiushi Art Museum and Hangzhou Wujiu Art World Cultural and Creative Co., Ltd., and will be on view for free until June 23.
Reporter / Liu Yi
Editor / Huang Qianwen
Photo / Jiushi Art Museum
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