ART CITIES:Hong Kong-Wang Zhibo
Wang Zhibo studied at the China Academy of Art Oil Painting Department in Hangzhou, hes subjects are dystopian visions representing the liminal “non-places” of the contemporary world. Wang Zhibo blends Eastern and Western art references, an acknowledgement that this globalized world, is the one that, we like it or not, we all inhabit.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Edouard Malingue Gallery Archive
Wang Zhibo’s solo exhibition “There is a place with four suns in the sky—red, white, blue and yellow” at Edouard Malingue Gallery in Hong Kong, takes its title from Carl Sagan’s seminal book “The Cosmic Connection: An Extraterrestrial Perspective” (1973) that relates to the spectacular cosmos. Wang treats the medium of oil on canvas as a crucial player in her aim to confound our temporal and spatial notions. Transcending traditionalism through the subject matter depicted, which is both curious and challenging, she channels her painting to represent the variances of our visual experiences. The grand panoramic work “Rise, Fall” (2016), for example, depicts a dewy and nearly spectacular tropical landscape. Dotted by hovering spheres that in themselves resemble planets, the painterly finish hints to illusions, a magical environs, a sentiment that is heightened by the rising mist. Albeit a different subject matter, “Summer Kitchen” (2016) extends Wang’s consideration of associations. Depicting multiple vegetables including a roasted chicken, the painting at first sight appears as a classical still life of preparatory items for a meal. Upon closer inspection, however, there is a deliberate associative distortion as well as several unidentifiable objects, which consequently skew our perception. Moving from environmental and domestic renderings, Wang equally presents an array of people, rather than immersing herself amidst them though, she takes an observational, anthropological stance, seemingly capturing a tribal from afar, as they engage with daily activities, from, “Last Man” (2016) to seemingly ritualistic dancing, “Dancing is Better” (2016). These works present a new vein in Wang’s practice, moving between time and space, challenging our understanding of what constitutes daily life.
Info: Edouard Malingue Gallery, 6th Floor, 33 Des Voeux Road Central, Hong Kong, Duration: 25/8-14/9/16, Days & Hours: Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, http://edouardmalingue.com
