Hive Center for Contemporary Art is pleased to present “The Road Not Taken”, a solo exhibition of Tu Hongtao, a representative young artist of the “1970s” in China. Noted scholar and critic Chia Chi Jason Wang serves as the curator. The exhibition is composed of oil on canvas and paper works, collectedly showcasing the artist’s achievement over two years, since “The Desire of Plant: Tu Hongtao’s Solo Exhibition” held in 2011.
The meaning of the Chinese title of “The Road Not Taken”, is derived from “Drinking Poem” by East Jin Dynasty poet Tao Qian (365-427), “Living in the distance when one’s mind is far away from the hubbub” and “Forgetting words when about to argue”; the meaning of the English title “The Road Not Taken” is a scarcely populated road, borrowing the poem of the same name, by American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963). They both echo the recent creations and academic thinking status of the artist, particularly the classic theme of “nature” of Chinese art and cultural tradition where he returned to. He takes “nature” as a theme for contemporary art with a form of landscape, it’s obvious that “the road not taken”, is very impressive.
Since 2011, it seems that Tu Hongtao has decreased or suppressed the three-dimensional and spatial depth of the image on the screen with the use of more and more brushstrokes of lines, to create an association with the dialogue between Chinese traditional lines and brushstrokes. In short, the material construction gives place to the spiritual communication and emotional expression. In his latest works, group portraits are replaced by the theme of towering, lonely trees, which is one of the reflections that he has changed in Chinese tradition. Viewing the location and status of the human bodies, as well as the surrounding scenery, from the perspective of the painting to be reproduced, while transiting through the place, the road on the way, as well as this being a temporary stop, instead of never-ending settlements.
It’s probable that Tu expresses a dynamic nature rather than a static one. Moreover, he exposes the most primitive instinct and desire, as well as the outbreak of the natural momentum. If take this picture is an alternative iconography, Tu Hongtao reveals the restlessness and chaos of the quiet scene in his works, which is no doubt to reflect some national scenery? Or, it’s possible that the landscapes of flowers, grass, trees and rockery reflect a warning of pictures depicting survival, instead of the death caused by destruction.
About the curator
Chia Chi Jason Wang was born in Keelung and now lives in Taipei, Taiwan. He began his career as an art historian, translator and educator. He has become an art critic since the 1990s and a curator in contemporary art starting 1998. During the past decade, he has curated various major exhibitions for the Taipei Biennial, Taiwan Exhibitions at La Biennale di Venezia, Taiwan Biennial, and MoCA Taipei. From 2006-2012, He also taught fulltime at the Department of Arts and Design, National Hsinchu University of Education, Taiwan.
About the exhibition
Title: The Road Not Taken: Tu Hongtao’s Solo Exhibition
Artist: Tu Hongtao
Curator: Chia Chi Jason Wang
Publisher: Xia Jifeng
Director of the Exhibition: Tong Juanjuan
Organizer: Hive Center for Contemporary Art
Opening Reception: 16:00 pm, on August 3, 2013
Duration: August 3 – September 2, 2013
Venue: Hive Center for Contemporary Art (798 Art Zone E06, No.4 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing)
Courtesy of the artist and Hive Center for Contemporary Art, for further information please visit www.hiveart.cn.
Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO
