|
présentation :
ARTMIA Gallery is pleased to present artist Cai Zhisong’s solo exhibition on November 2nd, 2012 in Caochangdi space, Beijing. This will be the first time for ARTMIA Gallery to collaborate with Cai and the only solo show the artist held in China in 2012.
Roses and Clouds are the latest series of Cai Zhisong, following his earlier series of Motherland, which gained high recognitions from both academic the market area. Roses communicates the artist’s unique interpretations on love by incorporating broad historical issues into the discussions of human affections. In this collection, the beauty of roses in blossom is stilled by the lead-like calmness by combining modern objects with trendy elements to reveal “the ruthless clashes between the passion for dreamland reality”. If the Motherland series regarded as discussions on humanity and history, the collection of Clouds would be the review on life, in which the artist uses highly expressive art forms to explain karma and unpredictability of life. Five sets of Clouds were displayed at 54th Venice Biennale, one set was successfully making a new auction record price among Chinese sculptors at Poly auction. The other four sets will be included in this exhibition, which will be the first large-scale exhibition held in China since the 54th Venice Biennale. The tranquility and sorrow seen in Motherland can also be seen in Roses and Clouds. Through the show, visitors will get deeper into the spiritual aspects of Cai’s works and his familiarity and control on various creation approaches and appreciate the beauty of his works and the charisma of himself.
Cai Zhisong is recognized as one of the most notable artists in the Chinese sculpture circle, also the leader in the art and fashion world. In 2012, he was included into The Most Influential Artists by L'OFFICIEL HOMMES. Born in Shenyang in 1972, Cai graduated from the Sculpture Department of China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1997, where he held the position of lecturer from 1998 to 2008. Now living and working in Beijing. He has won dozens of prizes in his career and the notable ones included, the Gangsong Family Fund Award in 1997, the Taylor Prize which was the highest award at the Paris Autumn Salon in 2001 and which made him, at the age of 29, the first Chinese artist to win this prize in 103-year-history of the event, and the Bronze Prize of the 10th National Exhibition of Fine Arts in 2004. Also in 2004, he was given the President’s Award of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts. In 2011, he was invited to attend the 54th Venice Biennale.He has had more than ten solo shows and many more joint shows around the world. His works have been collected by many famous museums, galleries and art institutions home and abroad, including the Newark Museum in the U.S., Greek Gallery, Regensburg Museum in Germany, National Museum of Indonesia, Singapore Art Museum, Deutsche Bank, Embassy of Belgium Beijing, National Museum of China, National Art Museum of China, Art Gallery of China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Hexiangning Art Museum and Zhejiang Art Museum.
Artist’s Note 1
Clouds
Cai Zhisong
We begin heading to the death since we were born. Across the vast universe, life will leave its track even if it’s so short.
Life is not only a process, but also tells the result.
If we only focus on the process, life will yield cheers when we build glorious towers on the frozen lake.
If only the process matters, we will not struggle because of fear while going through the pain.
If we go through our life seeking merely the happy without looking at the future, one day, we might regret as a sick man with no cure.
The ignorance of karma makes us behave randomly at our own will. We try everything at the expense of waste of short and precious life, going about the phenomenon that is proved to be no avail, with so much depress, sadness and torment. For a fly who happens to be in a room, only does it matters when it gets out, despite how it tries.
Knowing little of the karma, one will only extend time and the fear of being executed, even if life prolongs to a million times long. A burning candle brings light, but a burned life might go into darkness.
Don’t be obsessed by crafty words and want more just in search of the “true self”, which is a mere magic play full of illusions, because visionary will never go with the real.
Don’t be scared by the starkness of karma and believe life only means process. Being aware of the truth will lead you out of ignorance for your later life. We were not born for being ignorant, so please do some certain good for your happiness and brightness.
In such a beautiful spring rainy day, we never notice the floating clouds, but the storm and thunders are always remarkable.
October 5, 2011 in Ganzi, Sichuan
Artist’s Note 2
Rose
Cai Zhisong
The fascination with Love is infinite; it shines through the whole life of a person. Love can brighten the darkness as well as rejuvenate a dying person. Being subjectively described, love becomes the sacrament in poems, the climax in novels, and the pure land in fantasies. People aspire to love all the time.
Some witness their love slip, but luckily experience the loss of dreams and realize the cruel reality. While some others enjoy love, in the mean time they indulge in the painful dilemma and psychological torment. They can only imagine the happiness of love.
People are accustomed to copying the lives of others and never comprehensively appreciate the significance of life. They cannot take any suffering in their lives; however, the ones with extreme endurance are idolized. Love usually ends in pain. When dreams and reality are rather different, many theories become a guide for us to follow, leading us from one pain to another. Many people have the ability to overcome various difficulties in life, but are reluctant to get rid of the strange bewilderment of love. Loneliness and greed want to put us into a trap. As a career giant and a love dwarf, one always tries to find a shelter. However, neither a wheelchair nor a crutch could make this person finally independent.
Love is like a complacent satisfaction, and people in love are vain, narcissistic and shallow, neglecting the needs of others. Pure love is nothing but sincere request.
Don’t you think that the pursuit of love is nobler than the pursuit of materials, as greed always fades the colour of love. Love is all very well in its way, but life is much higher. Due to the one-sided understanding, people only have the confidence to pursue love, but have no courage to bear the consequences, so please don’t behave irrationally or uncontrollably.
Love is soft and tender, like flowers, they bloom and die all the time; love is like our bodies, striding from birth toward death; love is like a lead rose, which will go to rack and ruin and become heavy garbage. The costs of maintenance are much higher than the value of itself.
Love is not eternal, but a moment of joy. It also needs a number of predestined relations. Don’t pay a lifetime for a moment of delusory pleasure, because love is not life at all.
Please think carefully when you are searching for love.
November 22, 2010 in Beijing
|
