Hao Shiming - Series II - Solo Exhibition

Hao Shiming, one of China's most talented "gong bi" Chinese ink painters has developed "Series II", a new series of works based on an imaginary theme of vines and thatch intertwining and coming to life. The series began with a woman, sitting on a chair made of thatch, while pieces of the material broke off and began re-combining into birds. This developed into a whole "branch" of the artist's works being devoted to the newly formed imaginary flying thatch-birds. Hao's technique is very strong, pieces of thatch are interwoven freely, as if flowing together, requiring the artist to produce "gong bi" ink lines meticulously. It is unusual for an artist to be so experimental in such a medium, as once paint is put onto the paper, it cannot be changed. Hao Shiming makes something so difficult look easy. One should not miss the details of Hao's paintings and examine up-close how the artist has created flying creatures from criss-crosses of thatch-work seemingly-impossibly combined.