Presented by Faurschou Foundation throughout the duration of the 56th Venice Biennale, Painting as Shooting will focus on a unique selection of some of Liu Xiaodong’s most important recent projects.
“Dealing with major global sociological, cultural, economic, ecological and environmental issues from the past ten years, he presents the journey of a voyageur moving through the images of the various worlds and situations he has witnessed, in locations worldwide from China and Asia to Cuba, Europe and Israel,” said Jérôme Sans, the curator for this exhibition.
Liu Xiaodong, Beijing Smog, 2015; Oil on canvas, 33X38cm
This exhibition will be the first major European show to fully explore Liu Xiaodong’s unique art practice, one which subtly yet forcefully focuses on the deep social and ecological chiasms in our contemporary life. The exhibition is curated by Jérôme Sans and will focus on a specially selected list of projects from the last decade that are dealing with major sociological and environmental issues in the world.
Painting as Shooting
Liu Xiaodong approaches his work with the eyes and the storyboard practice of a filmmaker. Each of the artist’s major works begins with a simple idea from one of his daily diary entries, describing the events he has witnessed, photos he has taken or people he had met, and then transforms them into live characters on his canvas. In a way the artist’s paintings resemble a production set where he acts as a director who collaborates with actors to play, record or recreate a situation, various impressions or the effects thereof. It is hereby that Liu Xioadong embodies the concept of ‘painting as shooting’.
Liu Xiaodong, Painted Picture of Qingzang Tibet Railway 1, painting and photography
About the artist
Liu Xiaodong (1963) lives and works in Beijing. He holds a BFA and an MFA in painting from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing (1988, 1995). The artist gained recognition in the 1990s and represents the Chinese Neo-Realism style. His solo exhibitions include Kunsthaus Graz, Austria (2012) and Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2010), while his work was also shown in various group exhibitions such as the Shanghai Biennale (2000, 2010), the 15th Biennale of Sydney (2006) and the 47th Venice Biennale (1997).
About the curator
Jérôme Sans is an internationally renowned curator, art critic, artistic director who has curated numerous major exhibitions around the world. He was the former director of the ground-breaking Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art in Beijing and co-founder of the acclaimed Palais de Tokyo in Paris. He is currently artistic director of one of the most important urban development projects in Europe, the Lyon Rives de Saône-River Movie, and co-founder of Perfect Crossovers ltd, a Beijing based cultural consultancy group.
About Faurschou Foundation
Faurschou Foundation is a privately owned art institution with a collection of contemporary art of the highest international class, with exhibition venues at Copenhagen North Harbour as well as Beijing’s attractive art neighbourhood 798. Faurschou Foundation introduces the visitors to some of the world’s most acclaimed artists. Faurschou Foundation’s collection is constantly developed and expanded.
Over a very short period since its establishment in 2011 Faurschou Foundation has profiled itself as a significant art institution with solo exhibitions of among other artists Ai Weiwei, Cai Guo-Qiang, Louise Bourgeois, Shirin Neshat, Gabriel Orozco, Danh Vo, and Bill Viola.
Courtesy of the artist and Faurschou Foundation, for further information please visit www.faurschou.com.
