Art Basel will officially kick off next week, and I believe many art enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating what kind of art treasures each gallery will bring to us. Ora-Ora recently announced that they will present a group exhibition at the fair, featuring works by artists Huang Dan, Peng Jian, Juri Markkula, Mai Miyake, Stephen Thorpe, and Xiao Xu, all centered around the theme of “Optimistic Fantasy.”
The theme of this exhibition is “Where is the Heart”, Ora-Ora explores elements such as passion, desire, and fantasy, which nourish our creativity. Through various fantasies, daydreams, and fictions, it actually gives us the courage to confront turbulent lives. The exhibition aims to cultivate connections, share inspiration, seek optimism, redemption, and common ground, allowing audiences to gain positive energy from art.
Artist Huang Dan, based in Beijing, has launched a new series of works. This creative method of gilding on simple outlines is like a hymn, praising the precious essence of endangered life and life’s instability. This resonates with the gold elements in iconography, as the artist encourages viewers to observe exploratively, which can serve as the first step towards tolerance, appreciation, and love.
Swedish artist Juri Markkula uses rich colors in these new works, including green, blue, pink, and gold, all of which are the result of pursuing complementary colors in his creations. Viewing these new artistic works can immerse viewers in feelings of freedom, attachment, and fantasy within themselves.
Artist Peng Jian, based in Hangzhou, has introduced a new direction into his classical and angular boundary painting style, showcasing a stiffness that can only be brought about by mastering the technique. Stephen Thorpe’s work, themed around birds, features high color saturation, displaying an imaginative and poetic world.
In Kyoto, Japan, interdisciplinary artist Mai Miyake will showcase a series of ink art pieces, continuing to explore the fragility of things and demonstrating her acceptance of the natural changes and evolution of things. Additionally, her other installation works are full of childlike charm, and adorable characters will take you into the realm of imagination.
Xiao Xuyun, based in Beijing, uses traditional painting mediums (brush, ink, paper). Most of his artistic language (rocks, thin mist, water) carries a mysterious, dreamy, and fantastical atmosphere. The distinctive feature of his work lies in creating scenes where unexpected creatures and beasts roam under the driving force of a dark atmosphere, bringing surprises to you.
For those of you interested in the above-mentioned artist, remember to visit Ora-Ora’s booth at 1D33 during the exhibition from May 27th to 29th!
Image source and learn more: Ora-Ora, Art Basel
