This publication is produced in occasion of the solo exhibition of Chinese artist Li Dafang at Galerie Urs Meile Beijing from September to October 2012.
'Li Dafang’s endless experiments within his artistic practice in recent years have propelled him to make a breakthrough, reflected in the more than one dozen new paintings and mixed-media installations on view. The exhibition includes works spanning from Li Dafang's most recent works on canvas, three-dimensional pictorial installations executed on canvas and wood, and examples of Li’s portraiture, as well as a scene accompanied by one of the written “subtitles” that hallmarked a large part of the artist's earliest production during the late 1990s
and early 2000s.
In Li Dafang’s view, in art there is little difference between progress and regression. The freedom in contemporary art is hypothetical, a “selfish” freedom that is fragile and vulnerable. Within today’s context, the artist is always overrated, yet the facts prove otherwise – creativity is relative, mediocrity is the original state. Beholding a humble attitude towards art, returning to an initial state in artistic practice—this is Li Dafang’s valuable intent.
Among many of Li Dafang’s works, his inseparable relationship with childhood memories and the environment where he grew up are found in the industrial areas and defunct factories seen in his images. Mesmerized by the old machinery housed in large factories and the defunct iron tools that for the artist represent a sense of absurdity and oppression, Li observes, “The beauty of the ruin dispersed through these factories and buildings of the past is what I appreciate until this day.” The figures among these images display strange poses and benumbed expressions, assigning a certain degree of narration and theatricality to his artworks, which even the audience might encounter with sense of confusion.' - from gallery's website.
With an essay by Carol Yinghua Lu.
Includes a biography of the artist. Plates of recent works (those not shown in the exhibition) are also included.
'Li Dafang’s endless experiments within his artistic practice in recent years have propelled him to make a breakthrough, reflected in the more than one dozen new paintings and mixed-media installations on view. The exhibition includes works spanning from Li Dafang's most recent works on canvas, three-dimensional pictorial installations executed on canvas and wood, and examples of Li’s portraiture, as well as a scene accompanied by one of the written “subtitles” that hallmarked a large part of the artist's earliest production during the late 1990s
and early 2000s.
In Li Dafang’s view, in art there is little difference between progress and regression. The freedom in contemporary art is hypothetical, a “selfish” freedom that is fragile and vulnerable. Within today’s context, the artist is always overrated, yet the facts prove otherwise – creativity is relative, mediocrity is the original state. Beholding a humble attitude towards art, returning to an initial state in artistic practice—this is Li Dafang’s valuable intent.
Among many of Li Dafang’s works, his inseparable relationship with childhood memories and the environment where he grew up are found in the industrial areas and defunct factories seen in his images. Mesmerized by the old machinery housed in large factories and the defunct iron tools that for the artist represent a sense of absurdity and oppression, Li observes, “The beauty of the ruin dispersed through these factories and buildings of the past is what I appreciate until this day.” The figures among these images display strange poses and benumbed expressions, assigning a certain degree of narration and theatricality to his artworks, which even the audience might encounter with sense of confusion.' - from gallery's website.
With an essay by Carol Yinghua Lu.
Includes a biography of the artist. Plates of recent works (those not shown in the exhibition) are also included.
Alternative title
Jin Zhan's Messy Growth, his Language and his Relatives | 金盞的生掌語言和他的親戚們 | jin zhan de sheng zhang yu yan he ta de qin qi men
Access level
Onsite
Location code
MON.LDF
Language
Chinese - Simplified,
English
Keyword
Publication/Creation date
2012
No of pages
62
ISBN / ISSN
9783952376782
No of copies
2
Content type
artist monograph,
catalogue
Chapter headings
The New Works of Li Dafang: Respecting the Throwback of the Inner Self / 尊重內心的'退步' - 李大方的新工作 - Carol Yinghua LU, 盧迎華
Li Dafang: Throw-Back, 李大方: 一種退步
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