Tang Contemporary Art is delighted to announce that Wu Wei's new solo exhibition, "Fur & Golden," will launch on August 12th at Beijing 2nd Space. This exhibition will showcase Wu Wei's latest series of works over the past two years. It not only features the classic "Pelage" series, including Disjointed Pelage, Blended Pelage, and Gold Pelage, but also introduces new pieces exploring various mediums and creative methods, such as Study on Touch, Body Reading, and Skin and Texture. In addition, the exhibition will mark the debut of Wu Wei's small-scale paintings, including the captivating piece entitled Bigfoot.

 

The exhibition title "Fur & Golden" is derived from the artist's ongoing use of anthropomorphized and organized forms of paper fur language. It also resonates with the large-scale fur works presented in the exhibition, predominantly in shades of yellow, while being influenced by the primitivism of world art and culture. Ultimately, both mediums of expression persistently interact and merge, unbounded by time and space.

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Wu Wei's "Pelage" series is an assortment of ever-evolving and dynamic works created using the classic language of fur. These pieces exhibit abstract forms with concise expressions, at times solemn and others pure, showcasing an elegant sense of repetition in their craftsmanship. The series captures the subtle expressions and emotions of animal pelage. Upon close inspection, it retains all the physical characteristics of paper as the fundamental material. Within this context, "pelage" represents not only sociological aspects but also the essence of artistry and craftsmanship, signifying the self-awareness and acquiescence of the paper medium itself.

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Study on Touch delves into the conceptual connection between humanity and the history of suffering and the interplay between phenomenology and the ontology of art. Wu Wei's artistic approach moves beyond a basic representation of the original image. Instead, it emphasizes the intrinsic strength of underlying structures. Brass elements encased within paper create an elusive presence in the composition. At the same time, sharp quadrilaterals evoke fissures, offering a refracted glimpse into the connection between the observer and the present reality.

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Body Reading represents Wu Wei's artistic re-creation of semantic expression and existential reflection, attained by borrowing the bodies of characters from classical statues or paintings—more precisely, various parts of the human anatomy. Through a dynamic combination of techniques, including painting, drawing, cutting, slicing, collage, sculpting, and collaborative use of paper fur, he breathes new life into ancient classical images, infusing them with contemporary significance.

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Skin and Texture represents an entirely new genre of work where he utilizes dripping wax to melt and combine with the surface of animal skin. The process involves the convergence of materials, actions, time, meditation, and physical labor—all encapsulated within the act of dripping wax. By skillfully merging elements of ancient patterns with modern human sentiments, he ignites a yearning for harmony between the tumultuous inner self and the external world.

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Wu Wei's works often evoke a psychological "sense of ritual" with concise and defined language. His creative process adheres to a rigorous set of artistic concepts and compositions to activate the authentic (corporeal) significance of past images and materials. Throughout this exhibition, this "sense of ritual" plays a vital role in the artist's minimalistic approach.

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