Hosted by the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, organized by Suning Culture Industry Co., Ltd, specially sponsored by Pace Beijing, the press conference and premiere of the documentary of “Skin’s Literary Form: Dual Exhibition by He Duoling and Mao Yan” was held at the Auditorium of the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts at 3 pm on April 29, 2014. The exhibition is one of the most important academic exhibitions of the year held at Nanjing University of the Arts, it aimed to take classic cases of contemporary Chinese painting as research objects, then comb through and clear some key issues such as painting ontology and the artistic nature of self-discipline. It invited two representative artists in Chinese oil painting circle He Duoling and Mao Yan to participate in it, with the means of a comparative study, simultaneously presenting the creative appearance in recent years of the two artists. The exhibition also attracts artists’ friends, art lovers, teachers and students from all over the country.

“Skin’s Literary Form: Dual Exhibition by He Duoling and Mao Yan” is a high level dual exhibition of painting since He Duoling’s solo exhibition held in Guangdong Museum of Art in 2013, and Mao Yan’s solo exhibition held in Pace Beijing in 2013. The exhibition and related academic activities will showcase the recent creating direction of the artists, while the curator takes “skin” as the metaphor of painting thus playing a key role in the entire contemporary art system, and this exhibition hopes to borrow from this to discuss the value of Chinese contemporary art after the transformation of political criticism and the sociological effect.

At the press conference, Liu Weidong, Vice President of University of the Arts initially addressed: “Mr. He Duoling is one of the most iconic contemporary artists, and new works constantly appear in his artistic creation, he is a modern realism painter through a special time, while he is also a symbol of contemporary art cultural coordination. Mao Yan is undoubtedly a great painter, and also a legend of the oil painting in the Nanjing University of the Arts.”

Well-known art critic Li Xianting said: “They closely connect personal feelings with contemporary society and living conditions. At the same time the understanding of the spirit of the time, personal inspiration and intuition goes through the mind to flow into the public minds.”After this, artists He Duoling and Mao Yan, Mr Ma Kaizhen General Manager of Suning Culture Development Co., Ltd. on behalf of the sponsor, and Li Xiaoshan, Director of Nanjing University of the Arts respectively gave a speech.

After the end of the press conference, there was a premiere of the documentary: “Hidden Clues – Dialogue of He Duoling and Mao Yan”. After 20 minutes of screening, the exhibition curator, documentary filmmaker Zheng Wen made a concluding speech.

CAFA ART INFO Journalist interviewed the two artists on site, then spoke of the painting by predecessor He Duoling, Mao Yan smiled and said: “I was deeply influenced by him in my early creations, so that I often joke that I am a descendant of Sir He. In addition, we are like-minded whether in art, or in terms of personality, so that we subtly influence each other.”During the expression of painting, Mao Yan frankly said: “Drawing for me is a kind of natural instinct. I have never deliberately adhered to it.”

But He Duoling rather “rationally” understanding painting, he emphasized the meaning of the traditional painting of art to himself: “Painting is perhaps a marginal expression at present. But I enjoy this kind of marginalization, rather than standing in the middle of a trend. I believe when art and working methods locate at the edge, the artists can settle and create more easily, expressing their minds.” When speaking of the trend of “regression” of today's painting, he said: “Art indirectly develops, which predicts that painting itself would focus again in the future, as well as the regression of tradition, and a personal way of life. These are related to the weakening of the political atmosphere and the diverse way of life in current society.”

The exhibition project is on display in a three-dimensional form, combining exhibition, documentary, interview, and forum, to discuss and present a self-disciplined painting based on excellent skills and a high spirit that plays a role of enlightenment within the entire contemporary art. During the exhibition, there are also navigations and public educational activities that link with the exhibition, and it is presented in Hall 3 of the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts, continuing until May 24.

Journalist: Zhu Li, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/ CAFA ART INFO

Photo: Yang Yanyuan (Part of the photos courtesy of the Art Museum of Nanjing University of the Arts)