The history of “Western Learning” changed the structure and appearance of the world, several important social cultural revolutions in China eventually led us into a new vision of globalization. The face of artworks has always been the reflection of the spirit and ethos of the times, since “May 4th Movement”, the fall of the modern academic circles for cultural outlet and direction, inspired the ideal youth to diligently explore their fields. In the economic trend that has appeared since the reform and opening up, some sunk while some found the harbor, in this exhibition five young artists born in different ages, respectively use their own angle, through different practices of exploration , solidifying their own perspective in their works by using familiar artistic language.
There are two meanings of “Question the East and West through Material”, firstly, it is “material” and “question”, artists render the prophecy of the works through the medium of language, in order to create a mental communication between the works and audience, until the arrival of a resonated situation. Therefore, how to express, what media and technique make a better transposition of the language of form, is essential for artists.
Like musicians selecting musical instruments and sounds, painters should find the material medium to satisfy the demand of inner expressions, which rises to the level of the ontology of language, to make a transposition between spiritual energy in the point of transition of the languages. Secondly, “the East and West” and “material” a have the same meaning in Chinese characters. They are both the mutual blankness and fullness of the character of word. “East and West” is not only a synonym of direction, but also collectively recall the physical landscape. Question the “East and West” by the way of “material”, it is an approachable proposition viewed both from the perspective of culture and natural science.
“Study of material to know the vicissitudes of lives” has appeared since Song and Ming’s dynasties, which paid attention to “exhaustively exploring the laws of material” and made the dying Confucianism revival once again, but it is different from the Western scientific spirit that appeared after the enlightenment, which are two different thinking modes, the former is a natural landscape oriented to “mind”, while the latter is a physical landscape oriented to “material”, both of them naturally have a different appearance within the profound mystery of humans and the universe.
About the exhibition
Duration: October 10 – October 20, 2013
Opening Reception: 15:00, Saturday, October 12, 2013
Curator: Liu Beiguang
Organizer: Beijing Cocolan Art Center
Tel: 010-58074922
Address: Room 39 of Building 6, Twenty-two Courtyard Street, Pingod Community, No.32 Baiziwan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO
