Exhibition Preview｜Zhu Yizhou’s solo exhibition "DISTANCE AND INTIMACY" opens at ArtPro Space on December 26
"Similar to describing the characters' personalities, when describing scenes, I prefer to describe the internal state, bare distant mountains, lakes at dusk or dawn, old rooms, etc. They are silent but contain too many secrets."—— Zhu Yizhou
DISTANCE AND INTIMACY
Artist Artist
Zhu Yizhou｜Zhu Yizhou
Academic Advisor Academic Advisor
Yan Yan｜Yan Yan
Opening
2023.12/26
Exhibition period Duration
2023.12/26-2024.02/26
Space Space
ArtPro Space 17th Floor, Tower A, China Railway Construction Plaza, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Opening hours
Monday to Friday 10:00-19:00 *Reservations are required to view the exhibition on holidays
sequence | Prologue
Distance and Intimacy：Zhu Yizhou's paintings
Delving into the artwork of an artist is akin to stepping into the artist's world, embracing the freedom and exuberance of their spiritual realm. In her recent works, Zhu Yizhou continues to express her characteristic focus on the interplay between figures and the spatial environment. However, there is a heightened emphasis on portraying the state of women—a shift from her unconscious attention to women's identity and circumstances towards an exploration of women, space, and the relationship with nature through the lens of an assumed outsider. The consciously simplified scenes, grounded in reality yet not strictly true to life, are designed to make it effortless for viewers to engage during the reading process, eliciting empathy or introspection. The internal state conveyed by the artist's paintings creates a captivating reading space, oscillating between a sense of distance and an image of intimacy, concealing numerous secrets the artist seeks to express. The landscapes, refined by the artist's subjective consciousness, take two distinctive turns in her recent creations. Firstly, landscapes serve as an environment and backdrop, with the relationships between figures evolving into the secrets the artist is keen to explore and articulate. This is particularly true for nuanced emotional relationships, resulting in diverse reading experiences for viewers. Secondly, the concept of landscapes is expanded further, reminiscent of the creation of art within indoor spaces. The spatial relationships she deduces, such as curtains, sofas, and figures, represent relationships between various elements in the space, giving rise to a new "landscape" within the space—psychological and emotional relationships of the figures. Through the figures' postures, micro-expressions, states, and even clothing and hairstyles, an intangible yet rich atmosphere is formed. This aspect takes center stage in the artist's recent works, reflecting her contemplation as both an observer and a participant in the female identity and consciousness. In her creative process, Zhu Yizhou consistently balances the expression of figures and nature, and the spatial environment, immersing herself in it, occasionally feeling a sense of unease, yet always infused with an incredible power. This, undoubtedly, is the wellspring of the artist's creative freedom. Just as we immerse ourselves in Yizhou's paintings, the generated empathy sometimes prompts contemplation and, at other times, fills us with longing—a truly enchanting experience.
By: Yan Yan
Artworks
Artist Introduction
Education
2018-2020 MFA, Oil Painting, Tokyo Art University, Japan
2013-2016 BFA, Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts, US
Solo Exhibition
2022 “The Scenery for Me”, ArtPro Space, Beijing, China
2018 “Predictive Space”, OJUN’s Room, Ibaraki, Japan
Double Solo Exhibition
2019 “The Visual of Lamb”, Kiyoshi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2019 “The micro center — Grapefruit Thief”, Tokyo, Japan
Selected Group Exhibition
2023 Westbund Art and Design, Shanghai, China
2023 “If you can see”, Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
2023 “Bewitchment by Language”, Sense Gallery X Huaixuan, Beijing, China
2023 “Prelude To The Backflow”, Bonian Space, Beijing, China
2023 Beijing Contemporary Expo, Beijing, China
2023 “The Green Sheaf”, Triump Gallery, Beijing, China
2022 “Paperclip”, Westbund Art and Design,
Shanghai, China
2019 “Tiny painting”, Geidai ArtPlaza, Tokyo, Japan
2019 “Pepepepe”, Tokyo Art University, Tokyo, Japan
2019 “Asian artist and Japanese artist”, Artcomplex Center of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
2019 “Tokyo Independent”, Geidai Exhibition Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2018 “Hey, that month”, Tokyo Art University, Tokyo, Japan
2018 “Five people”, YUGA Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
2018 “Art Next Generation”, China Cultural Center, Tokyo, Japan
2016 Green Point Gallery’s spring grand salon show, Green
Point Gallery, New York, US
2015 “Under the sea” Soft sculpture show, New York, US
2015 “Tie up!”, Performance solo show, Union Square park, New York, US
2015 “Space”, group performance, SVA Main Building, New York, US
Academic Advisor
Yan Yan
Curator, Deputy Director of Today Art Museum, Member of the Curatorial Art Committee of Beijing Artists Association.
Curator of "Cai Wanlin: Beyond Tranquility" in 2022, "Unknown Unknown: Zheng Da's Solo Exhibition" in 2021, "Convivial - Art and Design in the Digital Age", 2020 "The Event of Iron: Wang Jiazeng's Solo Exhibition" "Meditation in Incense: Ouyang Wendong Solo Exhibition" "Beyond Control - Li Jing Solo Exhibition", "Future Folding | Future of Today @ Suzhou 2018" in 2018. Co-curator of ".zip -Future Rhapsody | the 2nd Future of Today " in 2017 and"Rhizome: A Survey Subject of Chinese Contemporary Arts" in 2018. The deputy editor of the publication of "Today∙Art∙Research 2018" and the executive editor of"Research on the Operation and Preparation of Private Art Museums in China" .
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