Works in this exhibition are not attaching to any particular social context and knowledge; In these works, Xiao Yu is obviously evading any texual meaning which is often an unavoidable part in many works of Chinese contemporary art. In an unexpected way, the artist successfully appropriated the rich oriental quality of bamboo as a cultural symbol. Bamboo in here is flexible as water; still as mountain; the contours are sometimes light as soaring birds; ferocious as lurking tigers, or calm as caterpillar. Toughness and integrity, and cruel and tenderness exist in the work together. The work is independent of decoding of meaning--it is to evoke an experience in audience’s based on their instinct and meditation through their visual reaction.

Building up new methodology and self-consciousness in Chinese contemporary art is one of significant concerns of Beijing Commune. And Beijing Commune is in search of new possibilities of contemporary art in Chinese context. From Terrazzo series by Wang Guangle to Blank Paper series by Liu Jianhua, Beijing Commune has held series of exhibitions, trying to identify the hidden awareness of traditional Chinese culture in contemporary art beneath the bustling surface of the art scene. Today, “Xiao Yu – Turn Around” is an exhibition expressing the artist’s passion whilst calmness as a form of Chinese calligraphy. From the way how artist treat bamboo as a presentation of form instead of the symbolic meaning behinds, you can easily find that artists’ regards on spirit of traditional beauty and reflections on form of contemporary art.

Xiao Yu was born in 1965 in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Xiao graduated from the Department of Fresco, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in 1989. Starting from the 90s, Xiao has been an active figure in the art scene and has been participated in many important national and international exhibitions including the 49th Venice Biennale (2001) and the 5th Lyon Biennale (2000). Xiao has received the Chinese Contemporary Art Award (CCAA) in 2000. Apart from personal development, Xiao Yu is also a member of an art group, Polit-Sheer-Form Office.