Pearl Lam Galleries Hong Kong will present Spiritual as Mountains, a group exhibition of contemporary Chinese art inspired by the spirituality of nature and traditional Chinese culture. Curated by Wang Chunchen, curator of the China Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale, the exhibition showcases around 25 works by seven Chinese contemporary artists: Xu Bing, Xia Xiaowan, Su Xinping, Jizi, Wang Huangsheng, Lan Zhenghui and Zhang Wei.
Since antiquity, nature and landscape paintings have been a key component of Chinese art and culture, painted to embody the inner psyche and spirituality. Through installation, sculpture, ink painting, and oil painting works, the bold expressive spirit of the mountain is transformed and adapted. While some works present literal scenes of nature, other pieces realise its strength and essence in a more abstract manner.
Curator Wang Chunchen states, “The spirit of China is comparable to that of a mountain, in that it is lasting, constant, and embodies indomitable perseverance and vitality. If it did not possess this charm and value, its natural landscapes would not be the chosen subject of so many artists’ works and their investment of decades of effort in artistic creation.”
Jizi, Dimension of Ages (2013)
Lan Zhenghui, E69 (2014)
Su Xinping, Grey No. 7 (2012)
Wang Huangsheng
Flowing Imagery 20130212 (2013)
Xia Xiaowan, Landscape –Taihu Rock (2007)
Zhang Wei, Mountain No. 10 (2006)
by Louise Lui
Images courtesy of Pearl Lam Galleries
Spiritual as Mountains will run from March 27 – May 9, 2014