Chinese abstract art master Zhang Jianjun’s creations span different mediums, from ink painting, interactive installations, sculpture to photography. He has always actively sought the most appropriate medium to express his themes, with works continuously focusing on themes of existence, time, space, and transformation. Despite residing in the United States for a long time, we occasionally see his works in local galleries. Just like last year, he held his first joint exhibition with his wife Barbara Edelstein, showcasing a series of nature-centered ink creations.
After nearly a year, we finally see Zhang Jianjun’s latest exhibition again, but this time the theme is obviously much more “figurative” than before. This touring exhibition, titled “Traces of Humanity,” combines the artist’s latest thoughts on the eternal themes of humanity, nature, and time, and is also a continuation of the solo exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 2019. The exhibition previously toured in Shanghai and Shenyang, and has now moved to the art space at K11 HACC in Hong Kong, where the artist has specially created a series of works that have never been shown before for the local audience.
The exhibition is divided into three closely connected parts, the interaction of humanity, nature, and time gradually unfolds along the timeline of the past, present, and future. Through various mediums, it explores the interaction between nature and humanity, the flow of time and the traces it leaves behind, and the relationship between contemporary people and tradition, prompting more imagination about life and nature.
The exhibition space of the first part is like an archaeological site, continuing the concept of the 2019 London solo exhibition, but incorporating more local citizens and traditional Chinese humanistic images. Portraying portraits of people of different ethnicities and identities with ink and charcoal, these portraits contrast with the classical sculptures standing in the exhibition hall, linking the experiences of contemporary people with human civilization relics to create new stories, inspiring the audience to think about the possibilities of crossing cultural differences and connecting with each other.
The second part is a mirror corridor space. After experiencing the feeling of retracing history as if visiting an archaeological site, in this space, the audience will slowly focus on the eyes in the portraits. The dazzling and confusing changes in light, along with the switching of spaces, suddenly pull everyone back to the present moment. Walking along, one realizes that they are surrounded by layers of their own reflections, with their own selves visible everywhere in the mirror reflections. This immersive experience guides the audience to introspect, focusing on their own body, mind, and spirit, examining themselves from different perspectives, and exploring the multiple possibilities of the self.
The third part consists of a small interactive area. After reflecting on themselves, the audience will encounter three questions that strike at the heart here. Zhang Jianjun uses the method of questioning to guide the audience to participate in artistic creation, leaving their unique answers and their own “traces” in the exhibition hall. In the process, the “traces” left by the audience also become part of the exhibition, and everyone can also glimpse the human stories of Shanghai and Shenyang at the same time.
This exhibition tour is envisioned as a dynamic process, from London, Shanghai to Shenyang and then to Hong Kong. The images in the exhibition hall may increase or decrease, and the space subtly changes, reflecting the interaction between the artist and each location’s history and present moment. As the final stop of this exhibition tour, the Hong Kong exhibition will most comprehensively embody this dynamic accumulation, leaving the richest “footprints” for future retrospectives. Feel free to visit the exhibition and leave a unique mark there.
“Traces of People” Zhang Jianjun’s Return Exhibition
Date: From now until November 14, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm (Monday to Friday)
11:00 am to 7:00 pm (Weekends)
Location: K11 HACC, 728 King’s Road, K11 ATELIER, 2nd Floor
Learn more: K11 Art Foundation
