As pointed out by Korean philosopher Byung- Chul Han, in contemporary society digitalization and technological advancement are determining a paradigm shift from the materiality of things and objects to the ephemerality of the non- things, namely data and information. Contemporary artists, always sensitive to the transformations of the world we live in, internalize this socio- philosophical debate, often bringing back the materiality of the artistic object at the centre of their exploration.
Lu Zhengyuan, through a unique and multifaceted artistic practice imbued with conceptualism, explores the realm of the unknown and the complexity of contemporary reality through a wide range of materials and practices. Lu Zhengyuan Art Project titled Endless Dew, stretching from the Cocoon Room of the Éclat Hotel to Parkview Green Art Gallery, represents the continuation of the artist’s exploration of objective materiality and subjective emotionality.
Pieces from the series Profound Space are characterized by the combination of different materials, including glass, bitumen, gold foil and plastic. The multi- material insertions operated by the artist bestow the artworks with a sculptural, almost three- dimensional quality: the accumulation of chromatic layers, the integration of glass- made elements create the visual illusion of a moving space where perspective and depth are undermined.
The material and chromatic overlapping creates contrasts on a visual, semantic and perceptive level, blurring the boundaries between transparency and opacity, abstraction and figuration, softness and hardness, flatness and thickness, organic and inorganic. From a conceptual point, Lu’s art seems to blur the boundaries between realism and abstraction, between bi-dimensionality and three- dimensionality, while also exploring art history’s debated issues. One moment his works evoke the dynamic gestures of abstract expressionism, the next, the complexity of conceptualism.
The emphasis of the chromatic shades of blue and the recurrent presence of glass in the works on display establish a parallelism with the site- specific installation titled “Endless Dew” presented in the Cocoon room of the Éclat Hotel. Through his works, Lu Zhengyuan, who grew up in a city near the sea, metaphorically conveys his concern for the condition of our oceans subject to the consequences of water pollution. Combining elements of Chinese traditional thinking system with western philosophical posthuman discourse, Lu Zhengyuan demonstrates an ecological awareness and the ability to address issues of contemporary society with global implications and international resonance.
Endless Dew, while establishing an interactive relationship with the viewers, activates a multisensorial experience which awakens the viewers ability of creating mental connections and emotional associations, while opening new expressive and interpretative possibilities.
As pointed out by Korean philosopher Byung- Chul Han, in contemporary society digitalization and technological advancement are determining a paradigm shift from the materiality of things and objects to the ephemerality of the non- things, namely data and information. Contemporary artists, always sensitive to the transformations of the world we live in, internalize this socio- philosophical debate, often bringing back the materiality of the artistic object at the centre of their exploration.
Lu Zhengyuan, through a unique and multifaceted artistic practice imbued with conceptualism, explores the realm of the unknown and the complexity of contemporary reality through a wide range of materials and practices. Lu Zhengyuan Art Project titled Endless Dew, stretching from the Cocoon Room of the Éclat Hotel to Parkview Green Art Gallery, represents the continuation of the artist’s exploration of objective materiality and subjective emotionality.
Pieces from the series Profound Space are characterized by the combination of different materials, including glass, bitumen, gold foil and plastic. The multi- material insertions operated by the artist bestow the artworks with a sculptural, almost three- dimensional quality: the accumulation of chromatic layers, the integration of glass- made elements create the visual illusion of a moving space where perspective and depth are undermined.
The material and chromatic overlapping creates contrasts on a visual, semantic and perceptive level, blurring the boundaries between transparency and opacity, abstraction and figuration, softness and hardness, flatness and thickness, organic and inorganic. From a conceptual point, Lu’s art seems to blur the boundaries between realism and abstraction, between bi-dimensionality and three- dimensionality, while also exploring art history’s debated issues. One moment his works evoke the dynamic gestures of abstract expressionism, the next, the complexity of conceptualism.
The emphasis of the chromatic shades of blue and the recurrent presence of glass in the works on display establish a parallelism with the site- specific installation titled “Endless Dew” presented in the Cocoon room of the Éclat Hotel. Through his works, Lu Zhengyuan, who grew up in a city near the sea, metaphorically conveys his concern for the condition of our oceans subject to the consequences of water pollution. Combining elements of Chinese traditional thinking system with western philosophical posthuman discourse, Lu Zhengyuan demonstrates an ecological awareness and the ability to address issues of contemporary society with global implications and international resonance.
Endless Dew, while establishing an interactive relationship with the viewers, activates a multisensorial experience which awakens the viewers ability of creating mental connections and emotional associations, while opening new expressive and interpretative possibilities.