55 is pleased to announce that artists Qingtai HU (Discoveries) and Liao LI (Film) have been selected for the participation in Art Basel in Hong Kong this May.

Once Qingtai HU’s mother said to him, “Qingtai, the most beautiful colour is yellow." Since then, the artist started to be obsessed by these words. He wanted to make himself believe that was true. Since 1st of April 2012, Qingtai Hu repeatedly painted yellow colour on canvases like mad, in order to get self-brainwashed, self-recognised, and therefore make his mother’s words a reality. At one time, he even moved to a secluded spot, secretly forced himself with high pressure to reach that conclusion. By 3rd of November 2013, Qingtai Hu made 17 pieces of oil paintings on canvas, some relevant notes, and a project termination statement.

Qingtai HU was born in China in 1985. He finished his B.A. at Hubei Academy of Art in 2008. His recent major exhibitions include: Aviff Art-Film-Festival in Cannes (2014); “Eight Possible Paths” @ Uferhallen (Berlin, 2014); “ConditionLeft-and-right arrowReflection”, curated by LEAP magazine (Hong Kong, 2013); and “The 14th OPEN International Performance Art Festival” (Beijing, 2013).

At the entrance of the Optics Valley walking street in Wuhan, the artist kept his eyes closed, waiting for an executant sought online to slap him on the face, then left.

Liao LI was born in China in 1982. He graduated from Hubei Academy of Art in 2005. He was one of the 7 finalists of the 1st Hugo Boss Asian Art Award in 2013. His recent major exhibitions include: "HUGO BOSS ASIA ART - Award for Emerging Chinese Artists (Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai, 2013); and "ON/OFF - CHINA’S YOUNG ARTISTS CONCEPT & PRACTICE" (UCCA, Beijing, 2012).

*image (left)
© Liao Li
courtesy of Gallery 55