At 15:00, on September 11, 2013, “Chun Lee Wang Gurt: Prophecy Fable” opened at the Underground Teaching Exhibition Hall. The opening ceremony was presided over by Li Fan, Deputy Director of the Department of Printmaking, CAFA, Prof. Song Yuanwen, former Director of the Department of Printmaking, Professor Ma Gang, Digital Media Studio of the School of Architecture, CAFA, famous architectural critic Fang Zhenning, Wang Wei, Dean of Chinese Printmaking Institute of National Academy of Arts, Prof. Zhou Zhiyu, from CAFA, Ms. Eva Ekeroth, the Swedish ambassador and Cultural Counselor, Ms. Wang Yanping, her husband Stephan all gave a speech. In addition, Xu Bing, Vice president of CAFA addressed at the opening ceremony.

Prof. Song Yuanwen said, Chun Lee Wang Gurt was one of the first graduates of the Department of Printmaking, after the reform and opening up, and was located in an era of Chinese artistic educational revolution, of different ages, while all had a bitter experience, as Chun Lee Wang Gurt was once a soldier. He also said, Wang’s works had a strong language in printmaking, and a very personal style. The exhibition was also an important feedback and test to the teaching of printmaking. Wang’s classmates Prof. Ma Gang and critic Fang Zhenning also addressed to the audience.

Wang Wei, Dean of Chinese Printmaking Institute of National Academy of Arts, on the behalf of his father Wang Qi, congratulated the opening of the Chun Lee Wang Gurt’s exhibition. Subsequently, Prof. Zhou Zhiyu said: “Chun Lee Wang Gurt has an emotional return through this exhibition, which is totally different from the past, while the inherent and potential things, like genetics, is worthy to ponder and recall what it is.”

Ms. Wang Yanping, classmate of the artist said, her works had the capability to make people feel calm, while the delicate and exquisite emotion touched people’s minds. As the husband of Chun Lee Wang Gurt, Stephen said: “Through Chun Lee, I understand China better, I am pleased with the successful organization of the exhibition, and I am glad and proud of my wife!”

“Symmetric Conspiracy”

At the end of the opening ceremony, the artist briefed the audience on the exhibition.

She said the overall feeling of the exhibition was very “quiet”, this emotional quietness was related to her living in Norway for years. However, these works were related to “the crowd”, Wang specifically pointed out the two installations of Kaleidoscopes, which actually contain a fly, but it seems to be “numerous” flies. In addition, the works which were placed on the exhibition wall were also the images produced by splitting and reconstructing a fly, Wang said it was like a different “social experiment”. Wang said she was very interested in “dark” things. She believed that it was often the most abundant place where the sunlight is not and in the case of darkness, all things relax more and show their nature. In the careful observation of insects, Wang also found that everything is very “elegant”, which recalls the simplest understanding and pursuit of painting and art of her childhood.

About the arrangement of the exhibition, the exhibition was divided into three parts: Firstly, the “human” is located in the innermost area; secondly, the “insect” is located in the center; thirdly, “the day, date and time” is placed next to the door of the exhibition hall. In addition, all the works are symmetrical in the exhibition, which corresponds to the works “Symmetric Conspiracy”, located in the central area of the hall. Wang said, “Whether Humans or insects, they would be inevitably instituted when they are placed together, which is related to “planning” and “tricks”. Thus, we can easily see Wang’s delicate observation and keen artistic thinking on life.

About Chun Lee Wang Gurt

Born in Yantai, Shangdong Province in February 1957, Chun Lee Wang Gurt graduated from CAFA in Beijing with a BFA & Postgraduate Master’s degrees of Fine Arts, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, with a degree of MFA, Fine Arts, and at Pratt Institute in New York with a degree of Post-Master, Fine Arts. Currently she is a visual artist that is self employed, a guest associate professor at the Royal Institute of Art, a guest professor at Shandong University of Arts and Design, Jinan, China. She served as an Acting Professor at University College of Arts, Craft and Design Stockholm, Sweden, Artistic Director and Principal at College of Printmaking Arts, Stockholm, Sweden, and a visiting artist at Bob Blackburn Workshop Manhattan, New York.

In 1982, she issued a thesis “The Beautiful Art Comes from Simple” in the 9th “Chinese Art”, of the same year, publishing works in the “New Observation”, “Chinese Prints”, etc. Her works have been exhibited in the United States, France, Japan, Finland, Sweden, and so on, and many works were in the collections of the National Art Museum of China, China Guizhou Art Museum, Uppsala Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art and the Swedish Parliament, etc. She is one the most important Nordic Chinese artists. Frequently touring to universities, art schools, art groups to give lectures, such as CAFA, Shandong University of Arts, Shandong Normal University, while lecturing, studying, and exploring the differences between Chinese and Western cultures and arts in the Nordic universities, art institute and group, such as the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, Collage of Printmaking Arts in Stockholm, Uppsala University, etc., and directing artistic apprentices, committed to the development of international contemporary art.

As a trained printmaking artist and painter, Chun Lee Wang Curt’s artistic practice includes many different media and expressions. She works in drawing, graphics, painting, sculpture, animation, installation, photography and film. Her works often involves human relations, uncertainty, disintegration, fears, daydreams, and narratives of the past and such as might appear. Her works are often melancholic while being playful at the same time. Wang Gurt grasps her expression with care, seriousness and humor, works energetically and joyfully with every detail. Each stroke bears her definite signature.

In addition, she gained an artist working Grant for 2 years from the Swedish National Arts Foundation; won the Culture Award of the Construction Culture Grant Committee, Sweden in 2008, Artist Grant in the Swedish Artists' Association, Clarence and Else Blurn’s Foundation in 2005, Exhibition travel Grant in the Museum of Modern Art, Sweden in 2005.

She was a board member of The Swedish Government Agency Arts Grants Council Committee 2004-2009; Chairwomen of Xylon Sweden International 2004-2008; Board member of Swedish Artist Association Artist's House 2004-2005; Board member of College of Printmaking Arts, Stockholm Sweden 1998-2004.

Journalist: Yu Ya, Photo: Hu Zhiheng/CAFA ART INFO

Translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO