Tan Ping is an important artist who adheres to the artistic concept of “insight and the introspection” in Chinese contemporary art practice.At the time when Tan Ping takes his new position, “Walk Slowly—an Exhibition of Tan Ping’s Arts”, which have been prepared for two years, is to be opened a new way of PIFO Gallery in Sep. 28, 2014.The solo exhibition of Tan Ping is composed by the achievements of the latest art exploration since 2013, and displays Tan Ping’s constant creative standpoint and attitude.

Origin of Works

“Chì Chù: small steps towards that stops and goes sometimes. The nomination of Chì Chù is Tan Ping’s creation concept of “insight and introspection”, and also miniature of Tan Ping’s years of art creation. From Central Academy of Fine Art to the study experience at the University of Berlin, Germany, from the central academy of fine print system teaching position to the director of institute of design, and then to vice president of the China Central Academy of Fine Art, each of the identity and role transformation all bring Tan Ping’s works new possibilities.

As one of most influential contemporary artists, Tan Ping infuses Chinese and western artistic concepts into his creation.“Insight and Introspection” is the eternal theme of Tan Ping’s art pursuit.The works “Miners Series” which he created for his graduation in 1984 achieved perfection in realism expression. The impressive series of Net were showed in the sketch exhibitions in National Art museum of China in 1989, which provokes wild reflection and discussion on “sketch” as an independent creative medium.After his return from Germany in 1994, Tan Ping caused the strong concern of Chinese contemporary art with a series of audacious pieces on formal language in the contemporary art exhibition in Beijing. Tan Ping, who don’t stop at building and repeating his personal language, kept on attempting in transformation; his efforts in emptying himself and being loyal to his inner creative desire originated from the artists’ pursuit of creativity and self-confidence. Tan Ping, a maverick artist who keep away from ideology and creative symbols, has attracted much attention of the Chinese contemporary art world.

The Exhibition Context

The art works going to be exhibited in Pifo Gallery are the creative attempt of the artist from 2013-2014 to challenge himself, but also a display that contains the representative works in Tan Ping’s personal artistic endeavor.His pursuit of artistic origin experience includes from the “Paint it”, “paint me” to “I paint’’ transition, this is an artist of self improvement process, indulge in heart of writing way, setting up a complete account of the world.Tan Ping’s works are concise、clear and the personal, the change of the form, hidden his search for the inner impulse and desire.In Tan Ping ’s latest creation, he uses charcoal to “write”, ”painting”, and the power of whole body, comprehend for pouring into the paper with “l(fā)ine”.Viewers follow trends of “l(fā)ine” and changes into the artist’s pure inner world.

Tan Ping’s exhibition space divided into two area: second-floor space of the gallery showed Tan Ping ’s multiple phases the classic sketch works, and the first floor would flat out the sketch paper and charcoal paintings on the platform, breaking the traditional observation way of the art works. Through the artist’s intervention, “watch” is reset in the creative environment. When Entering into the hall, place yourself in the Tan Ping’s huge emotional and spiritual world, feeling his firm practice in the form and self-position, and then the artist’s inner feelings on “paintings” appeared; The viewers will get into the logic of “l(fā)ook” while transforming “eye to eye” and “overlook”. In addition, the artist also explanatory the moving visual work of the form of images, while causing the viewer to “Chì Chù” on the multi-dimensional look.

Concept of time and space weakened, Tan Ping conveyed that the consciousness of “Chì Chù” can be sublimated in the “walk slowly—Tan Ping’s exhibition”. “insight and introspection”, the art form exploring freedom and openness will be seen. On the journey of art, even without constant destination and anticipated direction, Tan Ping choose to “small step forward, stops and goes”, who provides us a rare chance of introspection in China contemporary artistic practice.

CV

Tan Ping was born in Cheng de City, Hebei Province, China in 1960; He graduated, with a bachelor's degree in print-making, from China Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1984, He was a lecture of China Central Academy of Fine Arts from 1984——1989; from 1989 to 1994, he was rewarded with a scholarship of DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) by the German Culture and Art Association; He studied in the Berlin Free Art Department of University of the Arts, and obtained a master degree and the qualification of Meisterschule; From 2002 to 2003, he worked as the dean and a professor of the College of Design, China Central Academy of Fine Arts. From 2003 to 2004, he acted as the dean and professor of China Central Academy of Fine Arts. He was elected the vice president of China Academy of Art in 2014.

About the exhibition

Theme: Chì Chù (Follow My Line) - Tan Ping's Solo Exhibition

Artist: Tan Ping

Opening: 3:00pm – 5:00pm, 28 Sep.2014 (Sunday)

Duration: 28 Sep. 2014 - 26 Oct. 2014

Address: PIFO Gallery, B-11,798 Art Zone, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Tel:＋86 10 59789562

E-mail: info@pifo.cn

Courtesy of the artist and PIFO Gallery.