Liu Gang’s first solo exhibition of 11 paintings at Y2ARTS (situated in MICA Building) showcases his concerns about our moral values, character integrity and the role of friendship in this complex and rapidly changing human development.
Every face tells a story is the age old phrase, Every body tells a story is a new phrase and a new phase in Liu Gang’s portraits.
The human mind and physical body are sculpted and conditioned through time and space. As a result, a human agency is created. Social realism makes our real embodied selves a burden in the load-bearing world. A statement of personal history is thus reflected upon one’s body.
To make sufferings more bearable, Liu Gang’s Kindred Spirit Series depicts strong allies has a sense of comradeship harness together. Images of hands clasped tightly and brothers-in-arms emphasize that we must overcome socio-culture differences and live in social harmony. Most of all, Liu Gang is telling us to overcome a repressive regime that befall us.
The use of scale and acute attention to details, Liu Gang crop these ephemeral subjects tightly to suggest the permanence and presence of a genuine personality, from illuminating muscular form of human figure, folds of skin, stretch marks, to details of sweat pores with vivid clarity. These technical beauty and virtuosity of the execution of the work, allow viewers into an intimate relationship with each body, engage in an unspoken dialogue, to reflect emotionally and intellectually.
The Kindred Spirit Series vocalizes man’s self determination, and the young’s powers to know the world, master their environment, and thus control their destiny. This will lead them to fulfill their dreams and ambitions.