Pékin Fine Arts is pleased to present an exhibition of new work
s by Huang Zhiyang. Zoon – Dreamscape (2008-present) is Huang’
s 3rd
solo exhibit with the gallery and his first in the Pékin Fine Ar
ts Hong Kong gallery space.
Huang Zhiyang, born in Taipei in 1965, graduated from the Taipei Chinese Cultural University in 1989 majoring in Chinese traditional
ink painting. Huang has been based in Beijing since 2006.
'The world of Zoon - Dreamscape (2008- present) is similar to a
primal jungle. It dominates the painting surface, creating a
no-way-
out feeling. It seems that one is about to be submerged or ove
rwhelmed. Huang, in describing his painting style in this seri
es, alludes
to his generous use of the flowing movement of water. He first
'floods' his painting, then, as it gradually dries, he applies la
yers of
color, again and again. By repeating this process many times,
he is able to create overlapping color, giving layers of painte
rly depth
to the ink painting. Huang Zhiyang says he first randomly crea
tes a space and then proceeds to break it'. This 'random' act
seems
to imply a state of creation somewhere between 'automatic' and
'unintentional'.
In the compositions of Zoon - Dreamscape, Huang Zhiyang creates
a sense of visual disorientation. Not only is one reluctant to enter
the jungle, it is also impossible to penetrate. Precisely beca
use of this, the Zoon - Dreamscape works appear as a series of
walls
blocking one’s view. One may feel that there are some spaces w
here entry is feasible, but these also give rise to trepidation
and fear
regarding the next step. The psychological sensation, brought
on by Huang’s unique visual language, is akin to being lost in
an impenetrable jungle, and the result of his juxtaposition of color
s in each painting. Moreover, Huang Zhiyang’s choice of colors
summons
to mind thoughts of lichen or fungi. In Huang’s words, it seems that the very air is permeated with a 'beautiful but pathological violence'.
-- Wang Jiaji
www.pekinfinearts.com