I attended an artist’s talk Han Feng, at the Chinese
Art Centre which was organised in partnership with Contemporary Art Society
This is Feng’s first UK solo, he won the first John Moores China Painting prize last year and
Contemporary Art Society organised an
opportunity to learn about the artist’s work in person.
Feng was incredibly shy and softly spoken, almost timid; however
his work resonates with a bold and bleak defiance.
The images are reduced to simple forms; the viewer is drawn
in by the perspective into a sterile, grubby, suspended existence. Feng paints
underground urban tunnels which lead on to unknown destinations. There is no
sign of natural light as though the viewer will delve deeper into an unknown
maze or just reach a dead end. The viewer is faced with the challenge: Continue
moving forward until an exit appears or just turn back.
Feng also plays with
the notion of man’s aspiration, these towers appear endless however are made
from fragile tracing paper which will eventually degrade.
This is a leather jacket for a bird; a bird is given the
opportunity to become a consumer however will lose the ability to fly.
Feng’s work appears critical of the urban lifestyle, his
work lacks hope, forcing the viewer to conjure their own or become lost within
the urban jungle.
You can see more examples of his work at the Manchester contemporaries, (Buy Art Fair)
which launches tomorrow 28 September 2012 and will only be showing over the weekend. If you want
to invest in an artist work this is a great opportunity to gain some affordable
art!
