18Gallery is proud to host famous Ma Liang (also known as Maleonn, born in 1972 in Shanghai) solo show. This show is an unique work in progress show, a never ending intense project, never seen on the Shanghaiese art scene. The show will be a gwing show during all its duration. At the opening one will only see the seeds of an amazing work in progress.

As the artist puts it himself, this solo show is very special to him. It is about a place witha lot of memories as well as his own commitment as an artist.
« I see the Bund as the most interesting space in Shanghai, I live in this city, I have to cover it by my art. To display my private logic and philosophy in this place, using my rags, paper, fulfilled red lines, fantastic reading voice, abundant small nails, poems written on the wall… My old love letter, mails between anonymous as well as various collections of old photos about private life will be in this show including some my photography work. When being displayed like this, they are not only photographs, but partly the recording of my past emotion. » says Maleonn. He adds « I want to open the process of set up to the public, the show will be growing for one month. »Everyone will be able to see the evolution of the art. « Like the flower being carefully fed, Watching her flourishing, Slowly becoming fragrant, Then fading, Vanishing… » In this project Maleonn also wants the public to see what it takes to do art. « I also want to go on a hunger strike. In that month I won’t eat anything but liquid. I will take myself pictures. From the first day, to the end. One picture for one day. Slimmer and slimmer. More and more losing something. Except the weight, also the memories »

Maleonn is one of the most talented Shanghai photographer who has gained a kind of cult following because of his fable like photographs. His images, in color and black and white, are often created with props, actors and a strange mix of hues, colors and theatrical sets. Maleonn’s protagonists are captured in quite distinct poses that they take up in settings orchestrated to the smallest detail. The symbol-laden face painting, the emotive gestures and the sumptuous costumes he uses in his works are clearly inspired by Chinese stage plays and the Beijing opera. “My father was a director at a theater in Shanghai”, he says, “and my mother was an actress. I grew up in this artificial world.”