Dec 2024
Since applying to become a war correspondent for National Geographic in 2014 and stepping foot in more than twenty countries, my artistic journey has not only been a practice of creation but also a dialogue with the world. Over these ten years, I have consistently sought to interpret the flow and collision of cultures in a globalized context through travel, exploration, and perception.
A decade is a journey of constant transformation and growth in art. From the initial vibrant mixed-media paintings to increasingly innovative attempts with diverse mediums, this journey has not only expanded the boundaries of my creative expression but also helped me develop a distinct and unique artistic language.
My works can be seen as a poem about emotion and thought, unfolding around four key themes: "Pearls," "Gold," "Nature," and "Cities." These seemingly ordinary elements come to life on the canvas with renewed vitality. Through delicate expressions of the luster and texture of materials like pearls and gold, I imbue these elements with profound symbolic meanings. They become my "brushes," painting dreamlike and ethereal aesthetic realms.
My creations are not only a visual representation of cityscapes but also a deep intertwining of matter and form, exploring the complexity and dynamics of urban culture in the context of globalization. Within this fusion, I strive to capture the unique rhythm of each city, expressing their multifaceted charm and inherent tension as modernity clashes with tradition. Whether simulating the softness of light with pearls or highlighting the tranquility of night with velvet fabric, these mediums in my artistic language take on a narrative function beyond their physicality. This is not just a visual presentation, but an exchange of emotion and thought.
France - Paris Velvet, Pearls, Acrylic 110cm×79cm 2024
France - Paris Works Detail
Living in Paris, everyone is busy falling in love. Love is the most important thing in life, and nothing is more important than love. When I was creating this piece, the first thing that came to mind was the beautiful song La Vie en Rose, which evokes a sense of nostalgia with its warmth, partly due to the distortion of the original master tape over time. I began to use dyed pearls, with rose gold pearls to express its romance. Compared to other cities, I employed the technique of "simulacra," transforming the cityscape into rain or starlit skies. However, the details of Paris in this piece are the most faithful to the city itself. The streets and the dense glow of streetlights are clearly restored in the work.
The reason is simple: whenever I think of Paris, my memories are always concrete: the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, the gentle flow of the Seine, and the streets illuminated by light. Walking along the Seine, the banks are covered with colorful picnic blankets, lovers snuggling and enjoying riverside moments, friends laughing and chatting. The bridges over the river reflect the flowing light and shadow, and as the night breeze blows, the whole scene becomes incredibly romantic. The brightly lit streets connect cafés that never close, with the aroma of coffee floating through the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and conversation. The sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower punctually illuminate the night sky, gently keeping time for the city, where time itself seems to lose its significance.
In Paris, everyone is immersed in love and warmth. This city was invented and built for love; it is the very embodiment of romance. Through this piece, I hope to convey this romantic atmosphere and the beauty of life to every viewer.
Mexico - Plaza de Toros México Velvet, Pearls, Acrylic 120cm×80cm 2024
Mexico - Plaza de Toros México Works Detail
I fell in love with bullfighting when I passed through Spain, and since then, it has become the core of my life. The world’s largest bullfighting arena in Mexico City further made me see it as the most captivating city. Bullfighters undergo harsh tests here to leave their names in history. Bullfighting is a battle between life and death, displaying the purest noble spirit: the bull’s unyielding genes and the beauty of its strength symbolize the nobility of sacrifice; through artistic movements, courage, and victory, humans convey the spirit of nobility. As a passionate lover of bullfighting, words cannot fully express my love for it. Hemingway, Goya, and Picasso shared the same deep affection for it. Mexico City, with its bullfighting arenas, showcases passion, bravery, and freedom, while the Day of the Dead festival embodies the wise philosophy of "life and death coexist." My paintings focus on the bullfighting arena, using divergent compositions to depict the diffusion of light, showcasing the allure and magnetic charm of Mexico City's bullfighting arena, like a black hole.
United States - Los Angeles Velvet, Pearls, Acrylic 100cm×80cm 2024
United States - Los Angeles Works Detail
Los Angeles is, in my opinion, the most "talented" city. It is a gathering place for classical musicians, pop singers, actors, painters, directors, and other gifted individuals, making it a paradise for artists. Weekly art events and house parties are constant, and everyone carries the dream of becoming a "big star." As the center of free trade, this city holds countless stories of the American Dream built from scratch. In my works, besides using pearls as "dots" for painting and the technique of connecting dots to form a "painting," I continue to rely on intuition to recall my past experiences with this city. These reflections shape my summary of the city’s "emotional" and "experiential" qualities. Pearls of different sizes and shapes symbolize the city's complex composition, while the dynamic imagery showcases the unique vitality of Los Angeles. It is like the stars in the sky and the waves of the sea, almost like a dream.
Colombia - Medellin Velvet, Pearls, Acrylic 110cm×79cm 2017
Colombia - Medellin Works Detail
Medellín was originally a dense area where multiple Amazon tribes gathered, believing in nature rather than religion. The region is rich in gold, and with the plundering by Spanish colonizers, indigenous culture and art gradually disappeared and were forgotten. However, as the anti-colonial movement spread throughout Colombia, indigenous artistic elements began to reappear in contemporary society and daily life, giving rise to a wave of nationalism, seen in things like shop decorations and posters. I couldn’t help but exclaim, "Colombian indigenous culture, once lost and now rediscovered, shines like pearls." This inspired me to create this piece.
The black part in the center of the image represents the mysterious "unpowered" nature reserve, while the other pearl positions represent the areas where the descendants of colonizers and indigenous people reside. The teardrop-shaped pearls mimic an abstracted realistic night scene, as well as the fleeting moments of raindrops falling. When I think back to this city, I often recall the humid weather of the Amazon and the pattering sound of rain hitting the various plants.
United Kingdom - Tower Bridge Velvet, Pearls, Acrylic 100cm×70cm 2024
United Kingdom - Tower Bridge Works Detail
Tower Bridge in London stands as a witness to the intersection of history and modernity, its structure appearing clear and majestic under the night sky. The towers and bridge body weave together to create a beauty that is both solemn and elegant, carrying the profound history and indomitable spirit of the city. Under the illumination, Tower Bridge resembles a dazzling gem set upon the River Thames, steady yet radiant, symbolizing London's philosophical pursuit of life with composure and grace.
The towers of the bridge stand like watchers that have stood for millennia, guarding the city's vibrant yet serene riverside. Their strong and intricate structure not only witnesses the passage of time in London but also conveys a power that is impervious to the erosion of time. In this artwork, the bridge is adorned with pearls, reflecting the enchanting night view of London's river of life, and together with the Thames, it outlines a visual poem that embodies both vitality and emotion.
Italy - Duomo di Milano Velvet, Pearls, Acrylic 105cm×61cm 2024
Italy - Duomo di Milano Works Detail
When I first saw the Milan Cathedral, I was overwhelmed with emotion, and tears uncontrollably welled up in my eyes. The aristocratic aura, derived from Milan’s unique classical style, is the "white moonlight" in my heart. In the work featuring the Milan Cathedral, I use a large number of Baroque pearls to echo the decorative window mullions that adorn the cathedral. In the piece, I employ a symmetrical composition and a balanced rhythm, striving to restore the classical charm and sense of history of the city of Milan, showcasing the unique temperament and historical depth of this city.
Manhattan Times #1
Mixed Media on Canvas, Gold Foil, Silver Foil, Copper Foil, Acrylic
203cm×203cm
2024
Manhattan Times #1 Works Detail
In Manhattan Times #1, I abandoned traditional painting mediums and chose gold leaf as the main medium of creation. Its unique texture and shine shape a composition as intricate as a circuit board. The shimmering effect of the gold leaf captures both the splendor and prosperity of the city, while also reflecting the endless desires symbolized by Manhattan under the dim glow of lights. The golden light weaves a luxurious atmosphere of decadence, and within the flickering points, there is an unspoken sense of restlessness and anxiety.
However, this painting is not merely a celebration of luxury; it also serves as a metaphor for the double-edged sword of urban desire. The brilliance of the gold cannot conceal the weathered, ruin-like texture. The irregular cracks, spots, and folds in the gold leaf resemble hidden fractures, hinting at the fragile nature of modern civilization in its pursuit of wealth and dreams, as well as the forgotten past. The circuit-board-like structure symbolizes the flow of resources and energy within the city, like a dream of flowing light, yet it harbors an underlying sense of crisis, impossible to sustain.
Manhattan, the pinnacle of urban desire, dazzles with its lights but renders life insignificant. Every detail radiates tension between control and exile, construction and destruction. This is the spiritual core of Manhattan Era #1—it expresses not only the brilliance of the city, but also the tidal wave of desire behind urban civilization, and the loneliness and desolation that follow when the glory fades.
Manhattan Times #2
Mixed Media on Canvas, Gold Foil, Silver Foil, Copper Foil, Acrylic
203cm×203cm
2024
Manhattan Times #2 Works Detail
In Manhattan Times #2, I begin with the gold dust in the sky to depict the dazzling metropolis of excess. The gold dust scatters like a dream, guiding the eye toward the pinnacle of the city, like the peak of fame and desire, constantly attracting countless souls striving to climb higher. The entire piece, through the interweaving of gold leaf and silver leaf, not only portrays the brilliance and illusion of desire but also, through the collision of materials and the layering of textures, reveals the hidden and cold opposition between social classes.
Gold leaf symbolizes wealth and luxury, embedded to form the bright and dazzling core of the city; silver leaf, on the other hand, presents a cool reflection, revealing beneath the opulence a sense of solitude and forgotten edges. The two materials complement each other, highlighting both the splendor and the ambiguity, while their uneven textures reflect the divisions and inequalities of class: the layering of gold and silver leaf alludes to the ascent in the world of fame and fortune, and the cracks that appear show the incomplete nature of desire and the indifference of the city.
The gold dust in the sky spreads, creating a dreamlike, psychedelic atmosphere. It symbolizes not only the human pursuit of wealth but also spreads like floating dust across the canvas, subtly deepening the illusion and weightlessness of the urban façade. In this contest for fame and fortune, everyone seems to be immersed in the center of the stage, unaware that they are merely particles of gold dust scattered on the canvas.
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