Wang Chao
[Xi’an, China]
Art Yourself Atelier is thrilled to announce Wang Chao’s solo exhibition -- «The Visible and the Invisible»(«可见与不可见的») on our platform.
Artist's Biography
Born in 1986, Graduated from Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts in 2013 and received a master’s degree, working and living in Xi'An, China.
The Visible and the Invisible
" I'm trying to use the most basic Chinese painting elements <water> and <ink> to compose the pictures. Everything comes from these two elements, and myriads of varieties are born from them. I
hope that these varieties in the work can naturally reflect the thinking styles and characteristics of the Chinese.
People tend to push the perceptions of art in the "East” to the opposite side of the "West” like an imaginary enemy. However, looking back over the history, all art styles are irreplacable and possess
their uniqueness. When we are emphasizing the particularity of our medium: the <water> and <ink>, consideration should be given to the fact that no medium is born to be mediocre, nor
exceptional. In my opinion, macroscopy and objectiveness are necessary when viewing the <water> and <ink>. Then, if we put the <water> and <ink> into global context, we will find that
it’s just the one in another time and space, with some contextual relationship with other arts.
Different geographic regions give people varieties of characteristics and styles of thinking, which will in turn indicate their distinct regional features. During the long period of history, the Chinese
formed their own characteristics, as well as the corresponding way of thinking. Then it shaped the unique Chinese culture with distinct traits, which are presenting in arts. The <water> and
<ink> is a native artistic style generated from these traits: The softness and randomness of the <water> and <ink> exactly reflect the humble, introverted and flexible nature of Chinese
people. The important thing is: the characteristic of the <water> and <ink> fits our particularity of thinking. We became familiar with the <water> and <ink>, then we controlled and
relied on it. Subsequently, we had natural emotional connections to it. Such emotional connections coexist tacitly with the Chinese way of thinking, and have been embeded in our art for thousands of
years. The <water> and <ink> has been personified during the long history of Chinese art. It has also become synonymous with us and reflects the way we see the world. The <water> and
<ink> is not only a medium or an artistic style, it has also become a spiritual support for the expression of Chinese arts.
Looking back at my work, I’m trying to avoid stylized routines and start with a simple brushstroke to mobilize my thoughts and trigger my body, then complete the complicated construction of the picture.
Eventually, it becomes a restoration of my inner spirit. "
可见与不可见的
" 我试用最基本的中国绘画元素<水>和<墨>构建画面，一切源于这两个最基本的元素，又从中生出万般变化。我希望作品中的这些变化能够自然地影射出东方人的思维方式和性格特征。
时常，我们动则就将“东方”搁置在“西方”的对立面，设为自我编造的假想敌。放眼古今，无论哪一种艺术样式，都有其特殊性，均是不可替代的。当我们在煞有介事的宣扬水墨媒介特殊性时，更应该考虑到，没有哪一种媒介是平庸的、也没有任何一种媒介是自打降生就自带追光的。在我看来，宏观和客观一定是看待水墨的基本要求。那么，我们试将水墨抛入到全球化艺术语境中看，就会发现它只是众多艺术样式中的一种，与其它的艺术样式只是分布在不同的时空、有时会存在一些上下文关系而已。
不同的地域造就人们彼此不同的地域特征，彼此不同的思维方式也会反证他们的地域特征。东方人经过漫长的岁月历练，呈现出属于自己的性格特征，这样的性格特征，自然会伴随相应的思维方式，塑造出相应的文化特征，艺术创造则会呈现出相应的文化特征。水墨就是在这样的轨迹下生成的本土艺术样式。水墨材质的柔软特性与随机性恰好映射出东方人性格中的谦和、内敛和善于变通。重要的是：这种材质的特殊性恰好契合了我们在思维方式上的特殊性。当我们在熟悉、驾驭、并依赖它之后，固然会对水墨这种媒介产生情节。水墨情节与东方人的思维方式彼此默契共存，几千年来一直伴随着我们的艺术创造。在漫长的水墨与人的互相渗透过程中，“水墨”已被拟人化了，它成了我们的代名词、代表我们看世界的方式。水墨不单单只是一种媒介、一种艺术样式，它更成为了东方人在艺术表达上的精神依托。
再回看我的作品，我尽可能回避掉皴擦点染这些程式化的套路，由一个单纯笔触开始，调动思绪牵动身体，完成画面繁复的构建，而最终的结果，亦是我内心心境的还原。"
— Wang Chao · 王超
His Solo Exhibitions
2019 - Shanghai, China
«Unveiled Bright»
Quantum Gallery
2017 - Xi’an, China
«Transition: Wang Chao’s exhibition»
OCAT XI’AN
2017 - Nanjing, China
«Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World»
Banana Art Space
2016 - Nanjing, China
«In a breath : Wang Chao's exhibition»
Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts
His Group Exhibitions
2018 - Chengdu, China
«Mapping the City: A Vision of History and City»
OCT Contemporary Art Terminal
2018 - Xi'an, China
«Mapping the City: A Vision of History and City»
OCT Contemporary Art Terminal
2017 - Xi'an, China
«Breaking The Barrier: Xi'an Contemporary Art Exhibition 2017»
Xi'an Art Museum
2016 - Hangzhou, China
«Inter-Youth International Painting Exhibition»
China Academy of Art Museum
2015 - Beijing, China
«IVY ART 2015: Chinese Young Artists' Exhibition»
Today Art Museum
2013 - Nanjing, China
«Time zone –Creation and Exploration of Contemporary Young College Teachers»
Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts
2013 - Shanghai, China
«Growing - 2013 Shanghai Youth Biennial»
China Arts Museum