Looking at the world from a 'Blind Spot'
There is something interestingly profound in the “Blind Spot” exhibition.
It features not only experienced senior artists but also a group of young Chinese painters with an art training background in Germany. The exhibition is currently on display at Levant Art Gallery through January 18.
“When eyes are observing things, there would be a blind spot, which is usually unnoticed, as you can’t observe any apparent holes in your vision,” said Zhang Chong, curator of the exhibition. “Likewise through each artist's different style and individuality, this exhibition would reveal another angle of perceiving the world.”
Zhang himself is one of the participating artists at the show. He brings an interesting installation called “Then I Turned to the Right, Setting my Mind Upon the Other Pole, and Saw Four Stars Not Seen Before Except the First Person.”
Hanging on the wall is a constellation book, with one open page filled with a big hole made of deep hued resin, sphalerite and glue, which appears quite weird and strange. However, the answer lies in an infrared flashlight beside. When visitors use a flashlight to see through the hole, stars appear on a map of the 88 constellations of the night sky. In fact, Zhang used the delicate handmade patterns in this small hole.
Another interesting work is created by Huang Lan called “We Drink Milk When We Separate.” The work is composed of one water-color painting featuring two ladies drinking milk. But on closer inspection, visitors will find a small scene on the site where there are no two ladies drinking milk, leaving only the two glasses of milk on the table. The whole set is actually made up of miniature toys the artist collected from the past, varying from tiny cups, chairs, tables to plates and lamps.
“Fish Egg” created by Li Ke is also a work that demands a careful and meticulous study from visitors.
The works feature some very tiny jelly-fish shaped items, as if they are real tiny creatures from the sea. However, they are actually made of resin, pedal, seed, glass and pearls. Another focus of the artist is marine organisms, which she is curious to study.
The highlight of the exhibition goes to Gu You’s “Burning,” where you get to see three blue hued photos printed on the paper and coated on aluminum plate.
At first the works give a kind of abstract feel, yet they vaguely outline a blurred scene, which, according to the artist, is a ritual called Burning Dragon — a traditional celebration during the Lantern Festival by the Tujia and Miao minority people in Hunan Province.
“My pictures have been processed through some procedures to diminish its realistic elements, while adding a touch of abstract feel with some mysterious and narrative power,” she said.
Zhang concluded: “Sometimes what we see and regard as reality are not necessarily true, and even the basic human perception is deceptive to them. However, when reality is truthfully portrayed, sometimes we are perplexed and couldn’t understand it, and therefore we call it art.”
Don’t forget to use the flashlight on the right to see through the hole on Zhang Chong’s constellation book.
Exhibition info
Date: Through January 18 (closed on Mondays), 10am-5:30pm
Venue: Levant Art Gallery
Address: 1/F, 107 Huqiu Rd
