Exhibition marks 20th death anniversary of Chen Yifei

"Salute to Yifei – Exhibition in Memory of the 20th Anniversary of Chen Yifei's Passing" will run from April 12 to May 30 at the Shanghai Jinchen Yifeiming Art Museum.

Chen Yifei (1946-2005) is a legendary name in Chinese contemporary art history. He was a pioneer in introducing the notion of "grand fine arts" to contemporary China, as well as an advocate and practitioner of "visual arts." He earned success in various fields, including painting, movies, fashion, and environmental design.

Born in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, Chen graduated from the Shanghai School of Fine Arts, where he honed his skills in oil painting, a medium for which he would become internationally recognized.

His art is characterized by a unique blend of Eastern and Western styles, combining traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western techniques. His works often depict romanticized scenes of Chinese life and landscapes, rendered with a meticulous focus on detail and a rich, vibrant palette.

Curated by Chen Yiming, Chen's younger brother and executive director of the Shanghai Jinchen Yifeiming Art Museum, the exhibition includes 118 pieces by 57 artists. Some of the artists are Chen's classmates, colleagues, and friends with similar backgrounds.

The exhibition's highlights are four of Chen Yifei's works: "Early Morning," "Back Garden," and "Leisurely Boat" from 1983, as well as "Tranquil Evening" from 1984.

In October 1983, he staged his first solo exhibition at the Hammer Gallery in New York, and all of the paintings, including "Back Garden" and "Early Morning," sold out within the first week.

It is interesting for visitors to find a "window from a balcony" at the museum's corner. This window was salvaged from the ancient building at 159 East Beijing Road, where Chen Yifei lived.

As a child, he often took his younger brother and sister to watch the world outside from this window. This angle later inspired the master on his canvas. He painted many landscapes inspired by what he saw outside that window.

The exhibition pays tribute to Chen Yifei's personal achievements while also reflecting on the Shanghai-style art community of the 20th century. Here, homage does not imply replication. Each century looks at the same artist from a different angle," said Chen Yiming.

"Let me use a metaphor. It appears to 'slice open the husk of time with contemporary incisiveness, allowing the eternal genes of art to blossom in a new dimension' so that his artistic spirit can continue in a greater vision."

If you go:

Date: Through May 30 (closed on Mondays), 10am–5pm

Address: B1, 88 Yonghong Rd 闵行区甬虹路88号

Admission: Free