左：張曉剛 《跳躍 8 號》， 2023 布面油畫 200 x 105cm；
右：張曉剛 《光 10 號》， 2022 布面油畫 120 cm × 150cm © 張曉剛 ，圖片由佩斯畫廊提供
As one of China’s most influential contemporary painters, Zhang Xiaogang is best known for his solemn portraits in the “Bloodline – Big Family” series. However, in addition to his collective portrait works, you should also be aware of the new creative series that the artist has launched in recent years.
During Art March, Pace Gallery once again held a solo exhibition for Zhang Xiaogang in their Hong Kong space, titled “Zhang Xiaogang: Weightlessness”. The exhibition showcases the artist’s new works from the past three years, with 6 pieces making their public debut for the first time!
The exhibition is centered around the latest series of oil paintings titled “Light”. The light spots that dominate the composition are hazy and tranquil, yet they never reveal a clear source. In fact, ever since Zhang Xiaogang’s “Family” series in the 1990s, this light spot has been accompanying the artist’s exploration of painting, and it has gradually been magnified and pointing towards a certain spiritual hint in his subsequent works.
Compared to the portrait paintings that established Zhang Xiaogang’s reputation, this new series focuses on the classic theme of “still life” in art history, depicting scenes that are either mysterious, solemn, or absurd with concise and vivid compositions. For Zhang Xiaogang, the chosen objects to depict are always closely related to his life experiences. These quiet and ordinary objects often emit the will and desires of living beings, showcasing the artist’s consciousness of life as a subject.
Further reading:
- 【Art City Travelogue】Mickco Chan – The Soul That AI Cannot Replace
- 富藝斯西九文化區新總部盛大揭幕！逾 5 萬英呎空間展示首場春拍焦點作品
- 藝術月除了大型藝博會以外，還有這些城中畫廊的精彩展覽不容錯過！
The exhibition will also include the artist’s latest creations, “Leap No. 6” and “Leap No. 8”. These two paintings, done in oil paint on canvas and paper respectively, demonstrate Zhang Xiaogang’s sensitivity and delicacy when working with different materials. The “Leap” series officially began five years ago and has gradually developed into a classic image in the artist’s recent works, appearing in many of his series.
The dynamic feeling brought by the title of the painting does not appear in the picture. On the contrary, the characters seem to be suspended in still air, devoid of a clear sense of upward or downward direction, as if experiencing weightlessness. The artist weaves the current turmoil and the eternal dilemma of the human soul into scenes of absurd and surreal stage settings, just like an allegorical poem of the times.
“Zhang Xiaogang: Weightlessness”
Date: From now until May 4, 2023 (Sunday, closed on Mondays)
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: Pérez Gallery, 12th floor, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: Pace Gallery
