F2 Gallery presents the second Beijing solo exhibition of the Shanghai based Chinese artist Lu Xinjian from May 5th to July 9th, 2012. Entitled “Invisible Poem II”, the exhibition will feature a dozen of paintings from the artist’s new “Invisible Poem” series.
Inheriting the visual gene of his “CITY DNA” series, in which the artist utilizes Google Earth to abstract cities’ bird-view layouts into paintings, the “Invisible Poem” series is derived from an utterly different conceptual concern. Lu’s new series is a continuous exploration of his unique visual language combined with literary language. Lu first stumbled upon the fascinating relationship between language and visual art back in 2009 while experimenting with his “CITY DNA” series. Comments from his peers on the resemblance between the patterns in his paintings and Korean characters got him pondering on this subjectivity; however, he didn’t fully explore this concept until 2011. The creation of the series was born out of the artist’s friendship and conversations with Mark Alexander Talacko, a contemporary poet based in Shanghai, whose work is featured in some of Lu’s “Invisible Poem” paintings. In these works, Lu composes the characters and letters of the poems with basic graphic components in such a way as to blend in with the rest of the painting, thus creating an abstract visual effect. One may not immediately see the “invisible” poems hidden within the painting, but given a hint or a clue of how the characters or the letters are arranged, the “invisible” becomes magically apparent.
With traditional Chinese ink wash paintings, it is common for the artist to write a poem on the painting as part of the work, giving the painting another layer of meaning and further room for interpretation. Lu takes this inspiration and brings poetry back into paintings with his own unique artistic method. Lu carefully chooses classic, as well as contemporary poems, that truly speak to him. He also selects works from both Chinese and Western poets, in particular Du Fu, Charles Pierre Baudelaire and Mark Talacko, among others. Lu’s “Invisible Poem” series is a fruit of his contemplation towards representing the lingual form with visual representation, as well as reviving the classic Chinese and Western cultural heritage with a contemporary approach within the realm of the visual arts.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
This exhibition is organized in conjunction with Little Flower Projects, a nonprofit organization based in Beijing and dedicated to help countless Chinese orphaned children in need. They have been focusing on providing specialized care to abandoned infants and nurturing the growth and education of older disabled orphans since 1995. The entire proceeds from the sale of the first painting sold from this exhibition will be donated to the Little Flower Projects. The fund will be used for the pre and post care of a child who will soon have an emergency heart operation. For more information about the Little Flower Projects, please visit: http://www.littleflowerprojects.org/
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Lu Xinjian was born in Jiangsu Province in 1977. In 2000, he graduated from Graphic Design department of Nanjing Arts Institute. From year 2004 to 2005, he studied at IM Postgraduate Department of Design Academy Eihndhoven. Later, he earned his MFA in Interactive Media and Environment Department of Frank Mohr Instistute in Netherlands in 2006. Lu’s recent exhibitions include Invisible Poem II, F2 Gallery, Beijing (2012); Invisible Poem, Art Labor, Shanghai (2012); CITY DNA III, Fabien Fryns Fine Art, Los Angeles (2011); Absolute Blank, Absolute Vodka, Shanghai (2011); CITY DNA II, F2 Gallery, Beijing (2011); CITY DNA, Art Labor, Shanghai (2010); Basic Forms presented by Stella Art Foundation, 2nd Moscow International Biennale for Young Art, Russia (2010); Resemblance & Difference, Daegu Art Center, Korea (2009). Lu now lives and works in Shanghai.
