Mineral paint, acrylic on silk mounted on canvas

166 x 134 cm. 65 3/8 x 52 3/4 in.

EXHIBITED
29 Jun – 4 Aug 2019, Huang Zhiyang : Mixedliving, Whitebox Art Center, Beijing

PROVENANCE
Important Private Collection, Asia

Life Shaking Energy
The 'Geometry of Imagery' of Huang Zhiyang

Natural Wrinkle Method, Upgrading the Cosmos

Huang Zhiyang was born in Taiwan and in 1987 took part in the “Modern Ink Painting Association” launched by Liu Guosong. Huang learned much from the traditional ink painting “Cun” (wrinkle) technique, which he adopted and made more suitable to new modern images and artistic approaches. In 1995, he represented Taiwan at the Venice Biennial and in the same year won New York's “Asian Cultural Council Award.” In 1998, Huang took part in the “Contemporary Chinese Art Exhibition” which toured the United States. He also adopted a method that focused on distorted images, viewing individual image prototypes as basic cell-like organisms, which constantly split and divided, ultimately evolving into mutant entities imbued with a rich sense of organic life. This unique creative language was praised by American gallery owner Ethan Cohen and Huang became the only Taiwanese artist represented by the gallery. In 2006, he based himself in Beijing, at a time when the city was preparing for the 2008 Olympics, but was shocked by the speed at which construction projects steamed ahead. It was against this backdrop that Huang Zhiyang's “The Geometry of Imagery” series was born.

Taking Geometric Shape Over Time

In The Geometry of Imagery No.1, the artist divides the work into two distinct levels which creates a visual patchwork effect. In the lower level, Huang ingeniously uses traditional ink painting technique, making an array of marks (dots, smudges and wrinkles, dragging and splashing at speed, turning or slow moving) with oils on the dark colored canvas, a creative approach that gives viewers a direct feel and sense of energy from the work. On the upper level, the short and powerful white lines occupy the bottom and left half of the work, covering some of the color on the lower level and, whether overlapping or parallel, these leave behind the movements and marks of the brush. The clarity and saturation of the white lines establish a clear contrast with the more hesitant fine color lines. Moreover, as time accumulates the changing rhyme and strength of musical resonance approximate more closely to the life experience of Huang Zhiyang.

Price estimate:
HKD: 280,000 – 380,000
USD: 36,100 – 49,000

Auction Result:
HKD: --