Art in October: Enchanting Splendor‧Promising Artists Group Exhibition

Artists across the Taiwan Strait Exhibit at X-Power Gallery

Part of the GP DEVA International Boutique Group, X-Power Gallery is one of the few galleries specializing in contemporary art in Taiwan that run with global vision and speedy development. For the second half of 2012, the X-Power Gallery has organized several events for the art lovers. It began with art trio Ma Sing Ling's highly-commended exhibition "Form of Unity," which had drawn many world-class collectors to visit. To follow was the "Emerging Talents‧Rising Artists Group Exhibition" featuring the paintings by outstanding artists with great potentials in China. Currently at display is the "Enchanted Splendor‧Promising Artists Group Exhibition" characteristic of works created by promising artists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Led by Liu Baojun, the most sought-after artist in Shanghai, the participating artists include also Pei Lianzhi, Mou Lu, Yachi Lai, GOGO Yu and Luna Chen.

Distinguished Artists, Each with Distinctive Style

Liu Baojun, best known for his series of “Pipe-Smoking Women.” has become one of the most sought-after artists from mainland China in recent years. He is especially versed in illustrating details and using exquisite brushstrokes to create an image with a unique aesthetic sensibility. The texture of his painting is extremely rich, thanks to his skillfulness and talent for using colors and capturing light. The smoking woman in his painting, say resting her head against the arms, whether idly or leisurely, looks always so eased and graceful, which is exactly the beauty of tranquility the painter wishes to address. Liu has been reputed as one of the popular artists in Moganshan, a famous art district of Shanghai. He gains his popularity in Taiwan after being represented by the X-Power Gallery – during the Art Revolution Taipei 2011 and 2012, his exhibiting artworks were completely sold out right at the VIP Preview. Promoted by the X-Power Gallery, his artworks are now internationally recognized, including being selected into the

159th Autumn Exhibition of Royal West of England Academy, UK.

Pei Lianzhi, born in Liaoning Province of north China, is famous for his stylish landscape. "A good work should be of aesthetics in the first place. And then, it comes with an air of romance, poetic lyric, prose elegance, and mind-resonating power. Altogether, they speak to the essence of a good landscape painting,” said Pei Lianzhi after exploring the landscape genre for so many years. And this aesthetic philosophy is perfectly manifested in his own painting practice. In recent years, he has been exploring the way to go beyond realism by adding element of mindful freehand drawing to it. The gradient of monochrome changes from far to near; vegetations in layers after layers manifest the variation of the temperature; the meandering water comprises dots, lines, and planes. More uniquely, pigments crafted by the painting knife vividly display the relief-like texture. Full of tension, a simple image is yet touchingly powerful.

Mou Lu, the rising female artist from Taiwan, is distinguished for her “Scent of a Woman” – a series characteristic of a female silhouette by the side of flower, with diamond and gold foil as the highlights. Mou is well versed in presenting the subject with symbolic images and adding depth with collage techniques. Being simple yet mellow, diffusing elegant and gorgeous aesthetics in low-profile, her artworks have become socialites' favorite. For this group exhibition, she introduces her latest series, "Scent of a Woman‧Afternoon Tea," in which she illustrates woman’s inner energy via a simple color of the flower. She also expresses woman’s sincere emotions and attitude towards life through the "afternoon tea" – taking a sip of tea, the woman transforms into a romantic poet or artist, who unrestrainedly manifests her enchanting glow and charm – tea here becomes a symbol of a modern woman’s sense and sensibility. With an innovative idea and speaking to the heart of the woman, her new series will surely win favor from female collectors.

Yachi Lai, another promising artist from Taiwan, picked up the paint brushes and explored a new frontier of life since 2011, driven by her passions for art. Her first creation, the series of “Hand Gesture Series,” won welcoming support and applause at the first edition of Art Revolution Taipei. Before fully devoted to painting, she had worked on photography, computer graphics, graphic, and illustration design; she had also worked for designing game arts, cover illustration and girl comics – all of these experiences prepared her for establishing her own art style. At this group exhibition, Yachi presents her new series, “In Light of Chang Dai-Ch’ien / The World as It Was.” Inspired by Chang Dai-Chi’en’s splash-ink painting, she embeds the modern buildings within the Chinese landscape and creates a painting-scape of her own – a scape addressing the ideals of life in the contemporary society and signifying a taste of life of modern civilizations.

GOGO Yu, born in 1989, is a young girl who is inarticulate but sensible and perceptive. Her painting world beautifully demonstrates how unbridled one’s imagination can go – a world full of a child’s exploration and enjoyment of all sorts of wonder, manifesting the artist’s personal sentiments at the moment and observations toward the outside world. The fantasy of her artwork opens up a new horizon for the viewers to travel and traverse. For this particular exhibition, she presents her new series, “Dream‧Good Night,” a series centering around a youth with an innocent pure heart as usual, but more colorful in presentation. Here she transforms her feel of dreams into a space of imagination – and “Good night” is her password to this wonderland.

Luna Chen is currently a student of fine arts studying at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Although young, Luna is quite assured of her pursuit of art. For her, being able to devote ourselves to what we have passion for is why life is beautiful – and that is also why Luna advances herself through the course of art. Her creation leads us to an innocent fairy world. And because of the inspiration from her teacher Lee Sun-Don, the exhibiting artist of the 59th Venice Biennale best known for his “totemic energy aesthetics,” Luna is also interested in signs and symbols. Her first oil painting series, “Snowy Spring Color,” is using the boreal birches to symbolize her growing journey in Canada and her colorful memory of her sweet homeland.

Bringing together the promising artists across the Taiwan Strait, this group exhibition present excellent artworks with diversified styles. Affordable, and yet with great potential for appreciation. Do not miss it!

Information

Name: Enchanting Splendor‧Promising Artists Group Exhibition
Time: Oct. 06~ 28, 2012
Venue: Frontier Art & X-Power Gallery, Taipei(B1, No. 207, Dunhua North Road, Taipei)
TEL: 02-7707-8299