Tag: chinese

Xiaoze Xie at Chambers Fine Art

Working from his own detailed photographs, Chinese artist Xiaoze Xie, transforms images of books on dusty library shelves into atmospherically lit bridges to the past. Oil paintings from his latest solo show at Chambers Fine Art in Chelsea include this New Testament translation from Oxford University, wrapped volumes from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu and tomes from the Morgan Library in New York. (On view through June 17th).

Xiaoze Xie, The Queen’s College Library at the University of Oxford (K24, New Testament), oil on linen, 36 x 52 inches, 2016.

Miao Xiaochun at Klein Sun Gallery

Taking the doubts of Christ’s disciple Thomas as subject matter, Beijing-based artist Miao Xiaochun attempts a radical transformation of his own, departing from traditional art-making techniques to explore how hand drawing on canvas from 3D models might energize his paintings. (At Klein Sun Gallery through Oct 8th).

Miao Xiaochun, Zero Degree Doubt, acrylic on linen, 39 3/8 x 39 3/8 inches, 2015.
Miao Xiaochun, Zero Degree Doubt, acrylic on linen, 39 3/8 x 39 3/8 inches, 2015.

Li Hongbo at Klein Sun Gallery

Beijing-based artist Li Hongbo’s installation at Klein Sun Gallery creates a powerful creature from prosaic materials, if you interpret a snaking line of giant binder clips as a dragon. Textbooks flap like birds in the air above, pave a pathway below, and are carved into the shape of students at desks in the back of the gallery, all begging the question of how education might have the power to shape a society. (In Chelsea through Feb 13th).

 Li Hongbo, installation view of ‘Textbooks’ at Klein Sun Gallery, January 2016.

Zhang Hongtu at the Queens Museum of Art

Chinese landscape painting meets Monet’s haystacks in clever cultural hybrids by Queens-based Chinese artist Zhang Hongtu at the Queens Museum. (Through Feb 28th).

 Zhang Hongtu, Monet, Study of Pi Ma Ts’un and Jie So Ts’un, oil on canvas, 2007.

Zeng Fanzhi at Gagosian Gallery

‘Vast’ is the only way to describe the scale of Chinese star artist Zeng Fanzhi’s latest paintings on view at Chelsea’s Gagosian Gallery. Titled ‘This Land So Rich in Beauty,’ the nearest and largest painting depicts a curiously glowing landscape mysteriously obscured by a thicket, suggesting that both wonders and danger lie just out of reach. (Through Dec 23rd).

 Zeng Fanzhi, installation view of ‘Paintings, Drawings and Two Sculptures’ at Gagosian Gallery, November 2015.