In the Chinese term “reining”(Shi Kong 矢控), which is composed of two characters, the former character is a verb, which is the synonym of “implement” in the old Chinese Classic “Shijing/Book of Odes ?Daya/Major Court Hymns ?Jianghan”, for example, this "rein" means to implement a plan, while the latter part of “reining” basically means control and drive. The exhibition is named “Reining”, meaning to “implement control”, on the one hand, it reveals the creative mode based on an incident by the artist Yuan Gong, when it encounters a state of “l(fā)osing control”, it abides by a restraint. On the other hand, the artist combines the nature of the installation artistic material and spatial environment, to reflect the self-examination of current social issues and conflicts are presented in a special visual way.

The exhibition initially introduces a progressive displaying mode, totally featuring Yuan Gong’s three series of works including “Auspicious Clouds”, “Reining”, and “Relation”. In which “Relation” series, is the eyebrow head, which will be initially opened to the public, based on mixed media including images, videos and manuscripts of the incidents. Using art, Yuan Gong intervenes in social events, and the works are featured with the attention being paid to the survival state and thinking of humans, to foreshadow the latter two series of works which are about to go on display in another two halls.

The exhibition emphasizes the experimental elements of the works and the diversity of medium, presenting the finished works while taking the working state and process as an important part of the exhibition, the spaces and scenes are cracked and reconstructed by the artist, mutually conversing with the works and venues, dynamically moving, constantly spreading and deepening the practice of “reining” with the use of the two clues of time and space. Yuan makes the missing control and opportunities for new media harmonious in the motion, finishing creations by using new media in sporadic reactions of mobility and instability, while the flexible exhibition mode is the reflection that the artist is exploring a dynamical creative mode.

About the exhibition

Exhibition Dates: November 8 – December 4, 2013

Venues: Guangdong Museum of Art, Hall 7 (November 8 – November 19, 2013), Hall 5, 6, 7 (November 20 – November 4, 2013)

Courtesy of the artist and Guangdong Museum of Art, for further information please visit www.gdmoa.org.

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