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Paintings gush with narrative power
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Zheng Zaidong’s paintings have a rare power that zaps the nerves of viewers upon first glimpse, making them hard to forget.
The Taiwanese artist’s “Refulgence of Solitude” exhibition is ongoing at Long Art Museum West Bund through the end of this month.
During the past 15 years, he has been infatuated with painting similar images — a seemingly endless dark blue night, two or three tiny people in the distance and sometimes a boat.
Despite this lack of subject matter there is a dramatic element in each painting, leaving viewers to imagine what has happened in this quiet world and where have all the characters in this world gone?
“I have an emotional link with literature and all my friends are writers and critics,” says Zheng, who was born in 1953. “Compared with the art community, I think the literature community is more interesting.”
Perhaps this explains why Zheng’s paintings are filled with such narrative power.
Zheng says he first visited Shanghai in 1987 and immediately “fell in love” with the city. He has made it his home since 1997 and enjoys discovering little known and quiet parts of the city. “A good tourist destination is hardly crowded with people,” he concludes.
Although he uses acrylics, the result is similar to ink-wash paintings fused with a zen touch. He conjures up an ideal venue for familiar landscapes such as West Lake and Liuhe Tower.
He also isn’t shy about doing things differently. For example, Zheng bravely applies various shades of purple as backdrop colors, creating a familiar scene that is strangely tranquil.
Date: Through November 30, 10am-5pm
Venue: Long Art Museum West Bund
Address: 3398 Longteng Avenue
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