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Artist finds fresh view on still life
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STILL life painting may seems quite dated today, but artist Wang Yuhong employs photography, print making and other techniques to breathe fresh life into this classic genre.
Wang’s solo-exhibition featuring paintings, installations and photography works is currently on display at Union Church on South Suzhou Road through May 16.
Born in 1972 in Shanghai, Wang graduated from the sculpture department at China Academy of Fine Art in Hangzhou. The artist rose to early fame with her still life canvases of bamboo, blue-and-white porcelain, biscuit tins, vintage comic books and other memorabilia.
Her paintings have been widely exhibited in Europe and the US, and have been acquired by the Shanghai Art Museum, the Liu Haisu Art Museum as well as by private collectors around the world.
Between worlds
But Wang has never been one to rest on her laurels. In recent years, she has endeavored to bring more meaning in terms of form and content to this time-honored genre.
Seven-piece puzzles are a form of ancient Chinese toy and often played by diners at banquets. Wang has divided many of her canvases into the shape of these puzzles.
With her works now on display in an old church, Wang’s artworks appear to shine with a light of divine inspiration. Three dauntingly-sized paintings reveal traces of altar paintings while still being firmly situated in Chinese cultural tradition.
“For me, these objects are not symbols. It’s about the timelessness of the objects themselves, reverting to their physical texture,” the artist says.
Against the grain
“Looking at a still life is to awaken the eyes of our own soul. It often takes several hours to arrange these objects. A slightly different angle or position brings a different touch. They seemed unrelated, but there’s a relationship between things,” Wang adds.
Included in the exhibition is a series of photos featuring a white paper fan depicted in different landscapes and settings, such as an Indian temple, or European churches or castles.
She printed these photos on textured German rice paper. She then illustrates the fans with texts, flowers, birds or scenery.
“I even don’t know what to call these art pieces,” Wang says. “I am a proponent of technique, which may go against today’s anti-technique trends. In my view, the dividing line between traditional and contemporary is concept, rather than form or time.”
Date: T through May 16,
10am-4pm
Venue: Union Church
Address: 107 Nansuzhou Rd
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