Colorful vision
In Chinese, the term jingse is composed of two characters, jing, meaning landscape, and se, meaning color, which stresses the importance of color arrangements in natural scenery. In the realm of classical landscape paintings, or shanshui (meaning "mountains and waters"), a predominant combination of blue and green (qinglyu) has been used to convey the majesty and dynamism of the natural world.
Jing Se, an exhibition currently on display at the Suzhou Art Museum in Jiangsu province, centers on the modern development of qinglyu landscape paintings. The examples on show have been painted in one of two traditional ways, either on long, horizontal scrolls, or in ceye, albums made of leaves. The scrolls are on display until Nov 19, while the ceye albums are on display until Feb 8.
9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays.2075 Renmin Lu, Suzhou, Jiangsu province. 0512-6728-0798.
Surreal approach
Huang Yuxing has earned fame in recent years for work defined by the use of fluorescent colors and surrealist scenes, which fetches a high price on the market. The strong colors in his paintings, exaggerated bodies and whirlpool patterns express exuberance, as well as mysticism and spirituality. Looking at Huang's earlier work, which is totally different in style, it's hard not to wonder how the artist developed his current visual vocabulary, as well as the reasons for the dramatic change. Answers are apparently to be had at Huang Yuxing: Under the Vault of Heaven, an exhibition at Long Museum in Shanghai's West Bund. The exhibition, which runs until Jan 1, investigates Huang's transformation, by assembling the work he produced at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and pieces from the years before he became commercially successful.
A gifted painter, Huang's early work, especially paintings from his school years, shows the initial exploration of a young man with brushwork. The transition from subdued mood to the fluorescent series that emerged about 10 years ago, seems abrupt, but in fact, it is a continuation of Huang's search to reveal the truth of identity in an extensive universe.
10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays.3398 Longteng Avenue, Xuhui district, Shanghai. 021-6422-7636.
Same frequency
Born in Hunan province in the 1950s, Yang Jingsong, Zhang Xiaogang and Wei Dajun have participated in the dramatic changes to Chinese art over the past four decades. Displaying different approaches, the artists share a spirit of persistence and the firm belief in the beauty of art, despite changing trends and the over-commercialization that has influenced the work of many other artists.
Walking on the Same Frequency, an exhibition in Shanghai curated by Wu Shu, brings together pieces painted by all three in tribute to their efforts to enrich the art scene and show the importance of thinking deeply while creating. It is being held at the OCT See center until Nov 20.
10 am-6 pm, closed on Mondays. No 11, 108 Nong (alley), Shanxi Beilu, Jing'an district, Shanghai.
