Hu Zeqian, born in 1994, now resides in Washington, U.S., and is a rising star for his distinct aesthetic style. His works explore the emotions between past and present, illusion and reality, individual and collective, and delve into the complex interplay between emotions and images. The artist draws inspiration mainly from historical landscapes, museum collections, magazines, vintage photographs, and handicrafts. Through his exquisite layering techniques, he reassembles these forgotten fragments of memory, weaving a new narrative that transcends time and reality
In the research phase of his creation, Zeqian uses digital means to optimise his sketches. However, during the painting process, the artist abandons all spray paint or digital interventions, adopting an extremely slow and traditional method of layering, achieving perfect colour gradients and paper-cut sharp lines solely through manual painting, reaching a precision almost akin to digital effects. Skillfully layering the visuals, he blends various elements into a narrative, crafting a simple yet powerful visual language through precise control of colour and form
The exhibition "EMISSARY" will showcase Zeqian’s latest works created during his residency in Berlin, reflecting on his artistic life and showcasing the advancement of his artistic concepts and techniques. Each painting carries the artist's reinterpretation of contemporary reality, filled with nostalgia and hope for the future
- Ye Mengqi, Curator
