Rhetoric No. 26,  2023-2024;  High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 80×80cm

Themed on“Illusion vs Reality,”artist Zhang Yanni’s new solo exhibition is on display at the 798 International Art Exchange Center from October 27 to November 22, 2024. It showcases significant milestone works from Zhang Yanni’s artistic career, using porcelain tiles as a creative medium, integrating painting and multi-media materials in her “Virtual Reality” and “Rhetoric.” Additionally, the large-scale installation “Investigation,” composed of 365 warm cones, and the sculptural work “Reblossom” are presented for the first time.

Reblossom No. 6, 2024; Ming blue and white porcelain, Pine tumour, Bronze, Yellow mountain Thuja, Metal zippers, 20×20×45cmReblossom No. 7, 2024; Ming blue and white porcelain, Pine tumour, Bronze, Yellow mountain Thuja, Metal zippers, 20×20×45cm

Illusion vs Reality—Yanni’s Artistic Experiment

“The Stroll of Figurative Narration and the Wander of Poetic Aesthetics”

I use such phrases and vocabulary to discuss Zhang Yanni’s works and methods because her recent works have shown a significant transformation from methodology to artistic practice, evolving from figurative romantic realism to an intentional dimension with deep philosophical thoughts and analytical inquiries. Stroll—refers to her consistent works that carry a clear narrative of the times and possess strong plastic abilities and profound thematic pursuits, with each piece bearing her heavy spiritual footprints. Wander—indicates that her recent works have boldly stepped beyond constraints, mastering and controlling the material language to form an imagery painting language that is lyrical, poetic, and romantic.

Rhetoric No. 6,   2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 80×80cmRhetoric No. 8, 2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels,   80×80cmRhetoric No. 13, 2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 80×80cm

For a long time, Yanni has appeared in various national-level large-scale exhibitions with a lyrical romantic realism style, with works often depicting realistic scenes and historical moments. These creative processes already have a clear trajectory of symbolism and expressionism. Especially the minimalist shapes and bright colors highlight the romantic tendencies of her artistic language. However, behind this facade, the author’s thoughtful melancholic temperament is poured out. Because Yanni is an artist who is good at thinking and reading, even in thematic creation, she excels in constructing a larger carrying space and visual guidance within the composition and situational design. Therefore, her realistic creation is a stroll, down-to-earth.

Rhetoric No. 21,  2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 80×80cmRhetoric No. 25, 2023-2024;  High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 80×80cmRhetoric No. 27, 2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 80×80cm

Yanni’s recent works, however, offer a new visual dimension, which is greatly related to her graduate experience in the Material Art Studio of the Oil Painting Department at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. It is also the artistic accomplishment formed by her multi-dimensional focus on art history. Thus, she can quickly shift tracks to choose “meaning” over “form,” fascinated by the depiction of scenery and the creation of atmospheres. When I first saw these works, I thought of a term—“Part Porcelain,” which means that the porcelain material occupies a part of the overall picture, and “Part” can also mean the whole or control, which is a homophone with the traditional “Mending Porcelain.” But upon second thought, I feel that it still cannot correspond to her current batch of works, because her starting point is not ceramic art or porcelain painting. She only uses porcelain as a mixed material as part of the work, extending it to the canvas, and connecting and dividing it with zippers, allowing the opening and closing properties of the zipper to deepen the deep reading space of the work. Behind the aesthetic poetry of vision is the hard work of sewing and resolving, which is “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”; it is the life experience of repair and alienation. Compared with her previous paper dyeing and fragment collage series, it is another thick emotional and spiritual sublimation.

Virtual Reality No. 17,  2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 50×50cmVirtual Reality No. 18, 2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 50×50cmVirtual Reality No. 20, 2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 50×50cmVirtual Reality No. 26,  2023-2024; High-temperature porcelain, Acrylic, Linen, Metal zippers, Paulownia panels, 50×50cm

Good works are a cure for the artist’s own heart, and for the viewer, they are also a knowledge encounter or entertainment. Just like good comedies are often laughter with tears. Hesse said: The mission of life is only one, to find oneself, to be loyal to oneself, to become oneself. Then, Yanni’s works are her process of finding herself, and they also suggest a horizon for us to find ourselves.

Xing Junqin

October 22, 2024, at 798

About the Artist

Zhang Yanni, born in Jiujiang, Jiangxi, currently resides in Beijing, and is a professional artist. She graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts with a master’s degree and is a member of the China Artists Association. Zhang Yanni’s works focus on various issues such as identity, life, history, geopolitics, and individual differences. At the same time, the artist regards materials as an important medium for conveying information, emphasizing the multiple transformations of material characteristics, and establishing a unique and polysemous artistic language.

Zhang Yanni’s works have been exhibited in domestic and international art museums and institutions, including the National Art Museum of China, the Art Museum of China Academy of Art, the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Hunan Museum, and the Central Exhibition Hall of the Russian Saint Petersburg NESH. She has won awards such as the Central Academy of Fine Arts Graduate Excellent Works Award and the 11th National Art Exhibition Excellent Works Award, and her works have been collected by the National Art Museum of China. Major exhibitions include: I Am Myself Solo Exhibition / Aotu Contemporary Art Space / Beijing, China / 2023; Divine Tour - Digital Art in Historical Space Exhibition / Hunan Museum / Changsha, China / 2023; The Light of Chinese Civilization - Chinese Art Exhibition / Central Exhibition Hall of Russian Saint Petersburg NESH / Saint Petersburg, Russia / 2016; The First Youth Artists Collection Exhibition of the National Art Museum of China / National Art Museum of China / Beijing, China / 2016; Academy Star, National Higher Art Colleges Oil Painting Major Graduate Excellent Works Exhibition / Art Museum of China Academy of Art / Hangzhou, China / 2012; A Thousand Miles Journey, Central Academy of Fine Arts Excellent Graduation Works Exhibition / Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts / Beijing, China / 2012; The Fourth National Youth Art Exhibition of China / National Art Museum of China / Beijing, China / 2011; The 11th National Art Exhibition of China Excellent Works Exhibition / National Art Museum of China / Beijing, China / 2009.

About the Exhibition

Zhang Yanni: Illusion vs Reality

Curator: Zhang Wenjing

Academic Host: Huo Yujia

Exhibition Dates: October 27, 2024 (Sunday) to November 22, 2024 (Friday)

Exhibition Venue: 798 International Art Exchange Center (Building A04, 798 Art District, No. 2 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing)

Courtesy of 798 International Art Exchange Center.