“His works represent beauty, sophistication and a high level of perfection with a clear presence of Chinese influence represented in his use of colours, themes, shapes and choice of materials,” says Sylvain Gaillard, Director of Opera Gallery Dubai about Chinese artist Zhuang Hong Yi. The gallery is presenting the very first solo exhibition in the Middle East of the artist which began on December 5 and will run till December 17th. “Visitors will surely notice the stark contrast between the urban setting of the gallery in the DIFC, and the burst of colours provided by Zhuang’s paintings,” adds Sylvain.
Zhuang can best be described as a Chinese contemporary artist who is known for his colour-changing acrylic paintings which combine the simplest of materials to achieve an incredible visual universe and a unique style of modern art. His works are inviting and often very surprising; even for those who know his art well.
Chinese folk art, its materials and how they are used, provide Zhuang with an inexhaustible source of inspiration from which he gathers new ideas. He has produced paintings with ink, mixed traditional Chinese materials like acrylic and oil paint and rice paper. He also creates sculptures and art objects in wood, porcelain, and metals, amongst others. He has recently developed a new and unknown signature technique, that of making his ‘Flowerbeds’ change colour from each different perspective. His 3-dimensional world of flowers draws inspiration from three of nature’s most beautiful symbols; roses, irises and tulip petals.
He was born and raised in Sichuan, China and now works between his studios in Beijing and Rotterdam. Sharing his time between east and west, he often uses references to western movements such as impressionism forming a bridge between his birthplace in China to his current life in the Netherlands.
His bold, sculptural paintings have been shown in over 30 exhibitions and major group shows such as the Found Museum, Beijing, China; the Groninger Museum, Netherlands; and in Venice, Italy, in conjunction with the 55th Venice Biennale of 2013.
Dubai, being at the crossroad of east and west, geographically and culturally, Opera Gallery Dubai felt that Zhuang’s world of flowers and magical colours would have a special appeal in the region. The exhibition opening was held on December 5, with the artist making an appearance.
The Opera Gallery Group was founded in 1994 by French art dealer Gilles Dyan with exhibition spaces in Singapore and Paris. Today, the group comprises twelve galleries worldwide with additional locations in London, Geneva, Monaco, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Dubai, Beirut, Miami, New York and most recently in Aspen.
Since its inception, the gallery has presented a program of major modern and contemporary works by predominately established artists through a contemporary visual language. The gallery also utilises its vast global network to source and cultivate contemporary artists from around the world. As a result, the group now represents a unique collection of emerging and established contemporary artists supported in annual exhibitions and art fairs programs which also aim to promote cross-cultural exchanges.
