Art show takes visitors into the ‘unknown’
Print Edition
AN exhibition exploring the possibilities of combining painting, design and other art forms is underway at The Gallery in Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai.
Entitled “In Pursuit of the Unknown,” the exhibition features 15 recent oil paintings by Shanghai artist Zhao Junzhong, as well as objects such as candle holders and small scale furniture pieces by local designer Wang Yang.
Zhao’s new abstract works, with their cool color palette and smooth brush strokes, represent a departure from his previous works.
After graduated from Shandong University of Arts in Jinan in 1994, Zhao came to Shanghai a year later to learn from late art master Chen Yifei.
When Chen passed away in 2005, Zhao decided to take his art in a new direction. While working in Chen’s studio, Zhao’s images were mostly portraits of Chinese women or landscapes featuring southern Chinese water towns.
“At that time, painting was very practical ... just a kind of job,” Zhao told Shanghai Daily at the recent opening.
As the title of the new exhibition implies, Zhao set off on an artistic journey into the unknown. He abandoned his earlier style and went to study at Beijing’s Central Academy of Fine Art.
He described himself during his stay in China’s capital as a “drifter” and a “gadabout.”
“My life has changed tremendously,” he said. “Whenever there is change ... it’s a good thing for an artist.”
These days, Zhao’s paintings are much more abstract and non-representational. In some of his canvases, the only discernible “subjects” are subtle transitions of light and color.
Peng Feng, a Beijing art critic and professor has described Zhao’s works as “poetic, showcasing a sense of misty beauty.” But despite their dreamlike nature, Zhao says he spends a great deal of time planning each of his canvases.
“There is a haunting agony if you fail to present what you want to achieve on canvas, even if it’s unknown and uncertain,” he explained.
Along with Zhao’s images are decorative design pieces from Wang Yang.
A graduate of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, in east China’s Zhejiang Province, Wang set up her own design brand YAANG in 2007.
Her works are fashioned in a modern geometric style, but also pay respect to her Chinese roots.
“In Pursuit of the Unknown” was opened in late November. During the show’s debut, guests were invited to create their own drawings with the artists and capture their experience via onsite photo printing.
A drawing created by the guests and Zhao and cups designed by Wang were lucky-draw prizes for guests at the opening.
The exhibition is the latest event organized by Shanghai Daily’s Art Vision project, in collaboration with new media platform Top Tier.
Since initiated in 2014, Art Vision has held six exhibitions and a dozen art salons, showcasing artworks, prints, antiques and design pieces by rising and established artists from home and abroad.
Among the project’s aims is to bring fine art into luxury and boutique hotel settings, giving the public a chance to view high quality pieces in a relaxed, casual environment.
“We’d like to create a bridge between our readers and the world. Art Vision allows our readers to embrace and appreciate art,” said Joyce Wu, editor-in-chief of Shanghai Daily.
Peter Clarke, general manager of Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai also underlined the hotel’s support for the arts, as well as Shanghai Daily’s Art Vision project.
“The Gallery aims to offer a palace of art for our visitors,” he said.
The exhibition runs through the end of January.
It will also feature a series of artist dialogue events.
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