twocities past exhibitions

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			twocities is one of the few galleries in China that specializes in contemporary three-dimensional art. Our gallery represents Chinese artists pioneering in glass, metal, ceramic, and wood and lacquer. The glass artists we work with are considered the first generation of contemporary glass artists in China. Most of these artists come from academic backgrounds, studying and teaching fine arts at schools such as Shanghai University, Nanjing Art Institute, and the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute. Artists represented include glass artist Zhuang Xiao Wei, ceramics artist Chen Guang Hui, and jewelry artist Guo Xin. September 9 to October 16, 2011 Lacqution: Group Lacquer Exhibition Group exhibition featuring young lacquer artists: Zhong Sheng, Xie Zhen, Jin Hui, Kou Yan, Wang Jin, Li Mingqian, and Xu Jin. The artists in this exhibit push the boundaries of lacquer art beyond what is formerly known of the tradition. Paintings take on elements of experimentation, while sculpted works emphasize technique and form, granting a new language to the medium. back to top June 25 to August 31, 2011 Foundation: Summer Show Group exhibition featuring young artists representing the emergent world of contemporary functional art in China. Some utilize ancient techniques contextualized in our modern times; others experiment with new methods using traditional materials and themes. The result is beauty that harks back to ‘what was’ yet presses on and beckons ‘what is to come.’ back to top May 21 to June 22, 2011 Tea Talk: Contemporary Teapots Group Exhibition The art of tea is not just about the tea itself; the act of preparing, serving and enjoying the tea embodies values of hospitality, generosity and meditation. “Tea Talk” is a group exhibition featuring young artists exploring the significance of tea culture in China. With bold designs and creative concepts, these non-functional teapots pay homage to the tradition of tea while imagining the future of tea culture and aesthetics. back to top March 26 to May 8, 2011 Foundation: Dis-Functional Group exhibition featuring Chinese avant-garde craft art Modern society is experiencing rapid progress, but where is it taking us? 12 Chinese artists use traditional craft techniques to create works that challenge our notions of utilitarianism and consider the search for meaning and beauty in a postmodern age. Ceramic Artists: Chen Guanghui, Kang Qing, Lu Bin, Wan Liya Lacquer Artists: Jin Hui, Xie Zhen, Kou Yan Glass Artists: Cheng Xiang, Xiao Tai, Luo Xiaoshu, Qin Ling, Gao Yu back to top January 8, 2011 to March 15, 2011 Foundation: Functional Group exhibition featuring works of functional art. From plates to jars to teasets, these pieces bring beauty into the patterns and routines of daily life. Ceramic: Liu Lejun, Chen Jiu, Xia Shaohua, Han Yunfei Lacquer: Zhu Chonghua Metals & Jewelry: Guo Xin, Ni Xiang'ou, Lv Zhongquan back to top November 20 to December 31, 2010 Glass Serendipity: Wang Qin’s Solo Exhibition “Glass Serendipity” is Wang Qin’s first solo exhibition, showcasing a body of work built up from the past five years. Wang Qin interprets the tradition and style of Chinese calligraphy and ink painting through the medium of glass. All works are formed by the casting method. Wang Qin is a talented young artist in China’s emerging glass scene. He currently teaches at the glass studio at Shanghai University’s School of Fine Arts. back to top October 23 to November 16, 2010 Foundation: Fall Group exhibition featuring works of three-dimensional abstraction. From geometric lines to flowing shapes, this collection of ceramics, glass art and paintings examine movement and beyond to consider abstract beauty and meaning. Ceramics: Zhang Jingjing, Kang Qing, Shao Changzhong, Xie Mingjuan Glass: Wu Ouhong, Fu Shuai Paintings: Cheng Xiang Jun, Makoto Fujimura back to top September 18 to October 15, 2010 Soliloquies: Solo Exhibition of Makoto Fujimura The twocities gallery is proud to present “Soliloquies”, the first solo exhibition of Makoto FUJIMURA in mainland China. A collection of Nihonga paintings in the style of abstract expressionism, Fujimura’s paintings are at once luminous and layered. Fujimura received a M.F.A. from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music with a Japanese Governmental Scholarship in 1989. His thesis painting was purchased by the University and he was invited to study in the Japanese Painting Doctorate program, a first for an outsider to this prestigious traditional program. The department was headed by Ikuo Hirayama, and Fujimura studied directly under Matazo Kayama. Based in New York, Fujimura has contributed internationally as an advocate for the arts, speaking with decision makers and advising governmental policies on the arts. He served as a Presidential appointee to the United States’ National Council for the Arts from 2003 to 2009. back to top August 21 to September 12, 2010 ‘Light and Shadow Dance’: Jewelry Art Exhibition Duo exhibit featuring glass artist Cheng Xiang and jewelry artist Xu Jiaying. Works of jewelry art play with the nuances of light and shadow, exploring both the playful and profound. Cheng Xiang employs glass to create jewelry that recalls Victorian styles and motifs, while Xu Jiaying uses LED and optical fiber to create ultramodern pieces. back to top August 8 to August 28, 2010 ‘Three Ceramic Sisters’: Exhibit at Duolum Museum of Contemporary Art Ceramic divas Kang Qing, Zhang Jing Jing and Xie Mingjuan collaborate for an exhibition sponsored by *twocities* and Duolun Museum of Contemporary Art. back to top May 22, 2010 to July 7, 2010 Time Doth Swiftly Fly: Dialogue of Clay and Sumi-e Chen Jiu and Jackson Li’'s Duo Exhibition Time Doth Swiftly Fly is the first joint exhibition featuring Chinese ink painter Chen Jiu and ceramic artist Li Jian Shen (Jackson Li). Chen Jiu’s works are born of water, and his sumi-e (ink and wash) paintings represent an intellectual, scholarly approach to art. Jackson’s stoneware sculptures are born of fire, rough and visceral — the art of the people. Both artists make the past palpable in their works, combining the spiritual and the material to honor the richness of Chinese heritage. back to top March 13 to May 18, 2010 Foundation: Spring Show 2010 Group exhibition featuring works of beauty and function from the mediums of ceramic, glass and lacquer. Contemporary Chinese artists featured include Chen Jiu, Dai Yuxiang and Zhuang Xiaowei. Ceramic: Chen Jiu, Jackson Lee and Dai Yuxiang Glass: Zhuang Xiaowei, Cheng Xiang, Wang Qin, Luo Xiaoshu, Wu Ouhong, Yang Meihua and Chen Pengfei Lacquer paintings: Cheng Xiangjun, Jin Hui and Kou Yan back to top January 8 to March 10, 2010 “Drink for Life”: Concert + Photography Exhibition “Drink for Life” is a multidisciplinary art exhibition combining fine art photography and original pop and classical music inspired by a single topic: water. Water is the source of life. It is a building block for all living things and a necessary resource in the development of civilizations. When water is contaminated or in short supply, life hangs in balance. In its pure and basic form, water is mysterious and beautiful, a source of inspiration for creative expression. “Drink for Life” focuses on water’s elemental nature and our dependence on it while exploring metaphors for survival, sustainability and community. “Drink for Life” is a collaboration between one artist and two musicians, fusing together three creative interpretations to produce one unified artistic expression. ABOUT THE WORK in “Drink for Life”: Photography: American photographer Mark Most’s work captures water in raw and intimate shots. As water is splashed, tossed and disturbed, Mark captures it, freezes it in time and creates images in the style of abstract paintings. These photos are emotional and evocative in their minimalist style. Music: American musicians Ron Kent and Stephen Burks composed, arranged and perform all original music in this project. Inspired by the singer-songwriter traditions of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Steve Earle, the music in “Drink for Life” also incorporates a string quartet to create a fresh and innovative sound. back to top November 21 to December 31, 2009 “From Day to Day” Jackson Lee’s New Mingei: Pottery of the People Jackson Lee’s newest solo exhibition celebrates “pottery of the people” in mingei (folk arts). These wares of beauty and utility reconnect us with the role that handcrafted art plays in the rhythms of our daily life. Jackson Lee received an MFA from Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute and one from Alfred University, USA. His works have been exhibited internationally and he is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Lee is the co-founder of Sanbao, a ceramic art institute in Jingdezhen, Jianxi province. This is Jackson’s second solo exhibition at twocities gallery. back to top October 31 to November 17, 2009 Young Glass: Contemporary Chinese Glass Art “Young Glass” features the work of 11 young Chinese artists at the forefront of China’s studio glass movement. These works of cast-glass are bold, innovative, and representative of concepts and techniques shaping the future of contemporary glass art in China. back to top September 26 to October 25, 2009 Adorn: Wearable Art & Non-Functional Jewelry Traditionally viewed as status symbols and beauty accessories, jewelry has moved beyond mere decoration and now straddles the line between fine art and design. These contemporary jewelry artists employ non-traditional materials to create works that demonstrate technical excellence and imaginative aesthetics. ‘Adorn: Wearable Art & Non-Functional Jewelry’ features the work of 10 emerging Chinese and international artists in the field of contemporary jewelry. back to top August 29 – September 20, 2009 Hand in Hand Lacquer painting is a laborious process: preparing just the canvas requires layers of lacquer and linen cloths applied to plywood. Lacquer artists meticulously incorporate tree sap, egg shells, dyes and minerals, blending natural and sometimes artificial materials to capture aesthetic visions. ‘Hand in Hand’ features six young artists committed to reviving this ancient art form. They are both bearers of tradition and pioneers of new concepts and techniques. back to top July 3 – August 25, 2009 Foundation: Summer Show Modern society values efficiency and results: we chart success by numbers and profit through mass production. The tradition of craft art seems an anomaly but is actually as essential as ever. The legacy shared by craft artisans, the artist’s connection with his material, interaction between audience and the finished craft artwork—these relationships sustain a heritage that would otherwise be lost. The process of handcrafted art requires patience, time, intuition and an attunement with the materials being used. There is an earthy element to the process—utilizing materials composed of fire, wood, water, metal and earth—yet what is created is transcendental, touching at the very heart of what it means to be human. Foundation: Summer Show features artists representing the emergent world of contemporary functional art in China. Some utilize ancient techniques contextualized in our modern times; others experiment with new methods using traditional materials and themes. The result is beauty that harks back to ‘what was’ yet presses on and beckons ‘what is to come.’ back to top May 16 – June 30, 2009 Form & Function: Ceramics Group Exhibition Six young ceramic artists explore the intersection of aesthetics and utility in their collection of functional ceramic ware. Cups, plates and bowls are intertwined in our daily lives but the significance they hold extends beyond containers for food and water. These vessels define our way of life and appreciation of beauty, a marriage of form and function. The exhibiting five Chinese artists and one American artist represent the growing contemporary handcrafted arts movement in China, a movement that draws on tradition as much as it expands the vision of modern design and fine art. Exhibiting artists: Li Suyi, Han Yunfei, Kang Yang, Li Qiang, Wang Hao, Derek Au back to top April 18 – May 10, 2009 Cheng Xiangjun: Solo Exhibition Cheng Xiangjun is a well-renowned lacquer painter who employs techniques of oil painting while pushing the tradition of lacquer art in his work. In a style that echoes abstract expressionism, Cheng’s art breaks the conventional mold of lacquer paintings, employing abstract images, geometric shapes and colors that layer and leap from the wood canvas. This solo exhibit features paintings from his series entitled “Tibet Impression”. In this body of work, Cheng explores the mystical, philosophical and religious through symbols, colors and the aesthetic qualities of lacquer. back to top March 7 – April 12, 2009 Foundation: Spring Show The twocities gallery’s Foundation: Spring Show explores and celebrates the work of three young talented Chinese glass artists. Cheng Xiang, Fan Min and Yang Meihua represent the growing group of artists involved with the contemporary glass movement in China. Cheng Xiang explores color in her work, using the inherent characteristics of glass in optical playfulness. Her use of colors and composition in glass draws the viewer deeper into the object itself. Fan Min is a glass sculptor, shaping and forming glass to capture movement. His works are bold and commanding, some reaching up to 1.5 meters in height, yet still embodying a sense of ethereal grace. Yang Meihua delves into the idea of non-conformity in her works, utilizing the transparency nature of glass as a canvas to depict inner tensions and the complexity of relationships. back to top December 20 – February 28, 2009 Foundation: Winter Show Fire, wood, water, metal and earth are the fundamental ingredients in the creative process of handcrafted art. These basic elements mix and intermingle to create glass pieces, ceramics, paper art, sculptures and jewelry. They are also the foundational elements in traditional Chinese philosophy, possessing the ability to describe all interactions and relationships in the physical and metaphysical worlds. Chinese artists working in handcrafted art draw from these foundations to create a new world. In the exhibit Foundation, we are invited to examine their works and explore their traditions and heritage as well as the new future they are building. Foundation: Winter Show features artists representing the emergent world of contemporary functional art in China. Some utilize ancient techniques contextualized in our modern times; others experiment with new methods using traditional materials and themes. The result is beauty that harks back to ‘what was’ yet presses on and beckons ‘what is to come.’ back to top November 15 – December 18, 2008 Preservation / Transformation, Lacquer Group Invitational 2008 This group exhibit features seventeen artists who uphold the tradition of lacquer painting while pushing the medium and the artform beyond conventional borders. Their works preserve the essence of Chinese heritage and express post-modern sensibilities with bold results. Opening reception is Saturday, November 15, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Preservation / Transformation runs until December 18. back to top October 4 – November 11, 2008 Li Jian Shen: Solo Ceramics Exhibit Li Jian Shen (Jackson Lee) is a ceramics artist who breathes life and passion into his works of clay. Clean and delicate in form and design, his works express beauty and vulnerability while invoking a romantic longing reminiscent of Tang and Sung poetry. back to top August 30 – September 30, 2008 Elemental: Contemporary Sculptural Art, Mixed Media Group exhibit featuring emerging artists working in ceramics and glass. Artists hail from fine arts schools in China and include young glass artists Wang Qin, Xue Lv and Cheng Xiang. back to top May 17 – August 30, 2008 Qiao Shi Guang: A Retrospective Solo exhibit featuring wood and lacquer artwork by Qiao Shi Guang, considered the father of the modern wood and lacquer art movement in China. back to top April 19 – May 13, 2008 chee hwa, chee yee National invitational featuring wood and lacquer artwork from China’s fine arts colleges. Artworks include lacquer paintings, sculptures and ornamental boxes created by fine arts university students. back to top April 1 – 15, 2008 4 Step Snake Collaborative ceramics exhibit featuring two Dutch artists, Adriaan Rees and Hans van Bentem, and two Chinese artists, Chen Guanghui and Wan Liya. This exhibit was sponsored by the Dutch Consulate and the Netherlands China Arts Foundation. back to top March 22 – 30, 2008 My Shanghai: Migrant students’ photography Exhibit featuring works taken by sixth grade students from a school for migrant children. back to top