The “Non-scheming” Exhibition – By Liu Chuyun and Wang Xieda

The “non-scheming” Exhibition by Liu Chuyun and Wang Xieda will be held at the Feizi Gallery, at Fuxing Road West No. 55, Xuhui District, Shanghai City, from August 29 to September 20, 2009. The artists and exhibitors Liu Chuyun and Wang Xieda are a husband and wife couple who live by the ancient “Non-scheming” Daoist philosophy of Lie-Zi (列子).
Indeed, the concept of “non-scheming” was invented by an ancient philosopher named Lie Zi (列子) or Master Lie, one of the three primary philosophers who developed the basic tenets of Daoist philosophy and who flourished around the 4th Century BC.

The main body of work which bears the philosopher’s own name “Liezi”, describes a state of mind which is absent from deceit and scheming and where people are able to blend in and conform with nature, thus enjoying a life of perfect virtue, peace and simplicity.

This was the type of life that was dreamt about by the literati following Lie-Zi who thousands of years ago preached to people on how to lead a better life based on harmony, simplicity and emptiness, but his ancient teachings have all but been forgotten except by the very few. Lie-Zi who focused on the conception of the ‘transcendent’ or ‘metaphysical’- that which is beyond the realm of observable things, would be the first to be hurt – albeit not for himself – that his teachings are all but ignored today and that so many of us are still unhappy. Our constant search for the material aspects of life, have in turn emptied our spiritual well-being. Indeed, we have almost forgotten that our original intention was simply to seek happiness itself.

And thus, “Non-scheming”, which is the name of Liu Chuyun’s works of art, also reflects the type of life that our two artists follow and appreciate: inactiveness, simplicity, reputation-free, natural and peaceful. Liu Chuyun and Wang Xieda believe that their aura can be changed if they achieve the desired state of “non-scheming”. They thus bring these feelings into their creation and in turn work on their spirit and soul.
This is their first joint exhibition. It is a true reflection of their similar state of mind; of a husband and wife sharing the same dreams and similarities, yet distinguished through their individual essence and the unique singularity which they each bring to their art.