H2O. Solo exhibition. Masterly in his use of digital visual media, Xiaochun time and again lets us dive down deeply into a perfectly animated parallel world. Into the modern, artificially created imagery of cyberspace.
H2O
Miao Xiaochun has come back, down to earth. Back from the spheres of heaven, with
figures floating in the detached and airy space that he so closely explored in his
last large picture-series "The Last Judgement". And yet, it is not so much the firm
and solid ground of earth that the Chinese photo-artist is interested in. He rather
turns his attention towards an element which, at first sight, seems about as hard to
grasp as the atmospheric range of the sky: water. However, the framework that he
chose for his explorations (investigations) consistently remains the same: the array
of Western art-history. He furthers his forays through the world of art and
painting. And he leaves many enthralling hints for the observer, allowing him to
follow.
Masterly in his use of digital visual media, Miao Xiaochun time and again lets us
dive down deeply into a perfectly animated parallel world. Into the modern,
artificially created imagery of cyberspace - new, and yet strangely familiar. For
the artist uses our knowledge, the history of our world-view, our painting, our
space of image and imagination - all reflected in the mirror of famous works of art.
The allusion to this frame of reference allows him to phrase and convey his
thoughts. We know the models for his pictures. And exactly because we know them, we
can't help but think of them parallel to the process of perception and artistic
reception.
Miao's works function as picture puzzles, in which we newly discover well-known
aspects. The famous artistic prototypes are not simply converted 1:1. Miao subtly
varies the perspective and noticeably modifies the formal design and construction,
bringing on a perceptible shift of meaning. The artist did not choose his points of
origin at random. Unifying element within the rooms of reference for his new works
is the motif of water. As visible expression of the flowing of time and power of
life, and full of symbolic implications, the element of water again and again
becomes a metaphor. A source of creation and signification, and a source of art -
continuously changing and flowing, and yet always present, just as art itself.
The exhibition will be on show also at White Space Beijing (No. 2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District), from June 26th - September 16th 2007, opening June 24th 2007.
opening June 20th 2007
Alexander Ochs Galleries
Sophienstr. 21 - Berlin
Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat
Free admission