Visual and literary expressions of 'Innocence and Experience'

The Hushen Art Museum is presenting its inaugural exhibition "Innocence and Experience," which runs through March 9. The exhibition features 11 prominent Chinese contemporary artists, namely He Duoling, Mao Yan, Liu Ye, Ni Zhiqi, Ji Zhou, Shi Yong, Chen Xiaoyun, Jiang Zhuyun, Jiang Zhi, Jiang Jie and Zhao Bo.

In addition to these visual works, the show also presents literary pieces by 11 renowned contemporary Chinese writers – Yu Hua, Su Tong, Cheng Yongxin, Liu Liangcheng, Zhai Yongming, Ouyang Jianghe, Yan Lianke, Ma Jiahui, Lu Nei, Di An and Zhou Wanjing.

A striking aspect of the exhibition is its unique format: Each artist's work is paired with a specially written text from one of the featured writers, creating an intimate and thought-provoking connection between visual and literary expressions.

It dives into the interplay of two seemingly opposing yet intertwined forces: innocence and experience. More than just a juxtaposition, the exhibition invites both artists and writers to explore the profound and complex dialogue between image and text, drawing attention to the symbiotic relationship between creation and interpretation.

Artist He's "Grass on the Plain No. 11," a soft and atmospheric oil painting of a vast, tranquil grassland, is paired with a reflection by writer Yu: "I feel like a tree returning to the forest, a drop of water returning to the river, a speck of dust returning to the earth." One of China's most celebrated contemporary writers, Yu's works often deal with the complexities of modern Chinese life, blending dark humor with profound social commentary.

Through this pairing, He's painting, with its haze of color and almost ethereal quality, evokes the idea of cyclical life and return, making the viewer feel the pull of nature's rhythms and the inevitable return to origins, embodying both innocence and the weight of experience.

Liu's "Books on Books" presents a visually compelling stack of brightly colored books, each layer vibrant with its own story, yet unified by the overarching motif of books as symbols of knowledge. Characterized by bold colors and minimalist compositions, his paintings often incorporate playful yet philosophical elements, reflecting his exploration of cultural identity and historical memory.

Paired with the words of writer Lu: "It is precisely innocence that negates experience and experience that mass-produces innocence," the painting might be suggesting the cyclical nature of knowledge and understanding, illustrating how each layer, each book, both distills and replicates the process of learning, innocence, and experience in a continuous loop.

Artist Shi's installation work "Oblivion Lasts Longer than Memory – Ulysses (Vol.3)" takes an entirely different, more conceptual approach. With an intricate mix of materials – paper, pencil, LED screens, oak wood, low-reflective glass, and hot-rolled steel – this piece is a tribute to the fragmentary nature of consciousness itself.

Shi reinterprets James Joyce's Ulysses by painstakingly transcribing the text and then setting it alight, watching as the pages burn and disintegrate into something unrecognizable. His work reflects his belief in the deconstruction of linear narratives and established knowledge.

The physical act of destruction through fire becomes a metaphor for the artist's desire to liberate thought from rigid, controlling structures. It suggests a return to a more primal, unstructured form of understanding, inviting viewers to question the very nature of memory, experience, and knowledge.

Date: Through March 9

Venue: The Hushen Art Museum

Address: 3/F, 3 Zhongshan Rd E1

Admission: 88 yuan