" Calm Before the Storm " - Exhibition Foreword

 

"Calm Before the Storm" is a series I have been eager to create over the past few years. This collection uses various techniques such as photography, sketches, and oil painting to capture the vast array of natural expressions, reflecting the diversity and dynamics of human and societal environments. The global turmoil brought about by three years of the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified tensions both between individuals and among nations, escalating conflicts across various sectors, much like the high pressure that precedes a storm, prompting deep reflections among people. My own life experienced significant changes during this period; I moved from Beijing, where I had lived for over twenty years, to New York. In Beijing, due to the lockdowns, we were mostly confined indoors, and the view outside my window became the main scenery I observed, leading me to view everything I saw as if it came with its own window frame or was veiled by a curtain of mesh. Extended periods of observation simplified the complex details and sharpened the expression of my thoughts and feelings. In New York, I often see the various clouds that hang over the Manhattan skyline at different times. Sometimes, they are like enormous tufts of cotton, snow-white and fluffy; other times, they blaze in pink or fiery red, brilliant as a burning sun—a truly beautiful spectacle. However, what captivates me the most are the mountainous dark clouds before a storm, pressing down over the entire city. At such moments, from the sky above to the ground beneath my feet, it feels like a world that could burst into chaos at any moment or remain silent for a long time before releasing its energy. Before the rain falls, there is much to ponder—clearer observations and deeper thoughts allow us to more swiftly welcome the golden rays breaking through the dark clouds. This is the initial inspiration behind creating this series.

 

Regarding artistic techniques, while I have retained some traditional painting methods, I have incorporated more elements characteristic of our times, including various composite materials. In an era where image resources are readily available and disposable products are abundant, this series aims to reflect the current moment through materials that symbolize the concerns and aesthetics of our times. I focus on using materials that quickly achieve visual impact, emphasizing the direct expression of emotions and concepts rather than spending time on the detailed depiction of physical forms. This approach allows me to more directly portray the symbolic significance of the subjects and convey the essence of my thoughts.

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《風暴之前》展覽前言

 

《風暴之前》"Calm Before the Storm"是我近幾年來一直想創作的一個作品系列。這個系列借由我通過各種手段例如攝影、速寫、油畫捕捉到的自然界的萬千氣象，來映射現實世界的人與社會環境的多元與變化。三年新冠疫情動盪了世界，激化了人與人之間，國與國之間劍弩拔張的緊張關係，各個領域的戰爭，如同風暴降臨前的高氣壓，帶給人們太多的感觸。疫情期間我的人生也經歷了很大的改變，從生活了二十多年的北京搬到了紐約。在北京時因為封控大家大多數時候都呆在家裡，每天看的最多的就是窗外的風景，以至於後來看什麼都自然而然的想象出一個框子把視界框起來，或者眼簾裡蒙著半塊窗紗。長時間的凝視會讓我進入一種提純視覺要素的狀態，眼前的繁瑣信息變得更為簡單而直接，但也更鋒銳地傳達出我的所思所想。搬到紐約後，我常常觀察不同時間點懸在曼哈頓天際線上的雲層。有時候是一團一團如巨大棉花般的雪白的白雲，有時候是粉色或者艷紅色的火燒雲，如烈日燃燒般燦爛，多麼美麗的景觀。然而最吸引我的是暴雨前如山般的烏雲，壓在整個城市的上空，蘊含著巨大的能量，就像這個世界，也許下一秒是風雨大作，又也許要沉默很久很久才會迎來釋放。在暴雨降臨之前，我們有很多值得思考的東西，對前景觀察得更清楚，思考得更透徹，我們越能儘快迎來衝破黑色雲層的金光，這是我創作這個系列的初衷。

 

在創作手法上，雖然也保留了一部分傳統繪畫，但我使用了更多屬於這個時代的東西，更多的綜合材料。這是一個快消品氾濫的時代，作為一個反映當下的作品系列，我希望它們在材料上更具時代印記。我嘗試用一些能快速獲得視覺效果的材料來創作，而不拘泥於將時間耗費在創建視覺外殼上，直接表達情緒與觀念才是我關注的。