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‘Egg’ artist back with new exhibition
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FOR many artists, solo exhibitions provide the opportunity to reflect their efforts and dedication for years or decades to come.
But for Shi Shaoping, his solo exhibition titled “Metamorphosis: The Absolute Freedom” reveals how he “emptied and relaxed” himself in the past three years.
Shi has always been an “alien” in China’s contemporary art scene. He chooses to live a quiet life in his small community.
But silence doesn’t mean mediocre.
In 2013, his daunting installation work “Metamorphosis Egg” won the sixth place on Desighboom, even higher than the widely popular “Rubber Duck” created by Florentijn Hofman.
Designboom is the world’s most popular digital architecture and design magazine. The magazine has gained a global reach of 4 million readers and 450,000 newsletter subscribers.
Shi’s installation deserves the recognition. He “lays” 3,000 white ceramic eggs in six remote settings across China.
In each of the six locations, all in the scorching sun, Shi and his team deposit all 3,000 eggs, carefully arranged to provoke reflection. The eggs remain for three or four days and are then loaded up and driven to the next destination.
Some arrangements in the desolate terrain look like scenes from another planet.
The whole process and final installation is photographed and videotaped for a final exhibition in Beijing.
“2013 was such a crazy and unforgettable year for me,” he said. “Besides the physical exhaustion, I thoroughly freed my soul. Just imagine standing in front of a mass desert, it was like a direct encounter with you and the nature.”
Shi retreated from the focus of the public for about three years until his solo-exhibition in Red Town.
The exhibition features a cluster of his acrylic paintings created in the recent years.
Change, transformation and metamorphosis are always central themes in his work.
His paintings are filled with imagination and details originated from oriental culture.
His paintings appear surprisingly “relaxed” and “spontaneous.” Of course, they aren’t the stereotypical traditional Chinese paintings. Shi conjures up an environment that he himself might dream of.
“Believe it or not, I have several big projects at my hands, and I needed an emotional release,” he said with a smile.
Although Shi refused to share details of his big projects, he revealed his new work would include a mountain in Guilin.
“When everything is not finalized, I am reluctant to brag,” he said. “Come to see this exhibition and you might find the answer hidden in my paintings.”
Date: June 18-July 8, 10am-6pm
Venue: Author Gallery
Address: H102, 570 Huaihai Rd W.
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