Don Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition KIDS by Hu Zi. This is the artist’s first solo exhibition at Don Gallery, after showing in two group shows at the gallery. On view will be a group of recent works during the past two years.

The title KIDS is inspired by American rock singer, poet and artist Patti Smith's autobiography JUST KIDS. There are two narratives included in the show. The first one is the life of Patti Smith in New York in the 60s. The other is the personal memory of the artist in Paris. The stories of these two young women are different, yet intertwined with each other, constructing a personal narrative on faith, love, memory, body and adolescence.

As for Patti Smith and her times, on view will be a group of portraits of the rock star herself, Robert Mapplethorpe, her lifelong lover and friend, artist Andy Warhol, David Bowie and the great guitarist of the Rolling Stones Keith Richards; as well as a scene of Chelsea Hotel, a famous hotel in the 60s where many artists and musicians lived in. These personages from Patti’s life have deeply influenced Hu Zi. As for Hu Zi’s personal memories, self-portrait and the Saint-Paul Station, 4e arrondissement de Paris where she used to reside will be on show. The portrait is somehow a way towards deeper introspection. All these figures have abrupt big eyes, emotional lips, stiff bodies with tension, giving a sense of fragility, sensitivity and anxiety. While on the other hand, the decisive lines and strokes also reveal an inner strength of the artist’s being decisive and independent.

Hu Zi re-started oil paintings nearly a year ago. She continues her style and techniques of gouache on paper, and extends freely in oil painting. Her color has begun to break through from black and purple to yellow, green, blue and other colors. Expression through color has been broadened deliberately.

Hu Zi graduated with a master degree in Paintings from China Academic of Art in 2007. During her studies, she used to live in Cité internationale des Arts Paris for half year. Now she lives and works in Shanghai. After her graduation, Hu Zi’s works have been shown in many group exhibitions, including the Infantization organized by Shanghai Art Museum, in 2007 and toured to Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon, France and Art Basel Dreispitzhalle, Switzerland in 2010. She also had two solo exhibitions in Eastlink Gallery in 2008 and 2012. Her works have been included in many private collections.

*image (left)
courtesy of the artist and Don Gallery