On October 10, 2014, sponsored by the China Modern and Contemporary Art Document (CCAD), “Chinese Contemporary Youth Ink Painting Yearbook” in its second round ofan exhibition grandly opened at SZ Art Center. The exhibition continues the success of the first round, committed to the presentation of the richness, diversity and experimental nature of the creation of ink painting.

“Chinese Contemporary Youth Ink Painting Yearbook” in its second round of an exhibition is themed on “Enter a Realm”, a total of 8 artists including Du Xiaotong, Hang Chunhui, Li Geye, Li Peng, Liu Qi, Sun Hao, Tan Jun, Zeng Jianyong participated in the exhibition. The creation of the group of artists more than embodied the continuation of traditional literati ink painting, although the painting style and the technique of brush and ink is different from traditional literati paintings, they essentially embody people’s mental state and intelligence, to construct and convey an infinite meaning and realm beyond painting within the limitation of a painting, showcasing Chinese artistic traditional spiritual kernel in acontemporary art discourse.

At 3:00 pm, “Chinese Contemporary Youth Ink Painting Yearbook” in its Second round of an Exhibition ? Enter a Realm officially opened. The team of China Modern and Contemporary Art Document (CCAD) including Zhao Li, Chen Lin, Song Jirui, as well as 6 artists Hang Chunhui, Li Geye, Li Peng,Liu Qi, Tan Jun, Zeng Jianyong, etc were present at the opening. The exhibition is an important part of “Chinese Youth Contemporary Ink Painting Yearbook”, as the head of the project, Zhao Li said at the opening ceremony that, young artists always presentan imagination to the audience, this imagination wasa charm brought by youth art. Now ink painting attracts attentionmore and more, and this project passed the review of the National Art Fund, and sprinted to the ultimate goal. It is because ink painting especially youth ink painting has received a lot of support from the country and society. The significance of this exhibition was to make young artists communicate more with each other, they also hope that through the communication to produce a certain significance for the exploration of contemporary ink painting.

Hang Chunhui gave a brief speech on behalf of the participating artists, the only female artist Li Geye also spoke, and she said every exhibition was a process to recognize ourselves, she hoped through this exhibition to constantly know herself and improveherself.

After the end of the opening ceremony, the young female artist Li Geye was interviewed by CAFA ART INFO.

CAFA ART INFO: In regards to your work, could we consider it as a presentation of a struggling form?

Li Geye: My work presents a feeling of current life. The rhythm of modern life is very fast,so it will produce a kind of lost feeling in current life. Especially for young people, who struggle in the city and often meet adversity, tired by work, and other things makeyoufeel adrift. Under the strong pressure diverted from life, it will appear as weightlessness, insecurity, and confusion.

CAFA ART INFO: But your work doesn’t feel depressed and painful, instead such a large area of blue color feels calm and peaceful, it produces two different emotions.

Li Geye: That’s right, as with my personality, I still want to be able to find myself in a quiet world in such a troubled environment, so that the audience can feel a kind of purity and peace in the works, but it is inevitable that there is a struggle of and fightingagainst life, or helplessnessetc.I still hope that the audience can experience a variety of emotions in my works, this emotion is diverted from life, but it is not only a “beauty”, but also a kind of recognition of life.

CAFA ART INFO: The presentation of your work in the exhibition is also a feature, a breakthroughfor the two-dimensional form and turns it into a three-dimensional installation,how do you have such an idea?

Li Geye: Because I have learned many years of traditional painting, tradition isinmy blood for me. This strong poweroften makes me reflect– traditional painting stays in the two-dimension, and after the painting is finished, a scroll especially a vertical scroll is always like a banner hung in the nave, which is different from the carry-on hand scroll. What is the difference between the vertical scroll and our way of life? So Istarted thinking about how to expand the possibility of Chinese painting, especially how to change the way of Installation for Chinese paintings, which is also a thinking of the two-dimensional space. We always create and discuss in the “four frames” of a painting, but it is like a contemporary art work which can break through the bondage of the “4 ends”.We break through from the spatial concept of painting, I stretch the two-dimension to the three-dimension, it can be three-dimensionaloccupying the whole space. Under this thinking I cut the whole painting and hang them in the space, I refuse to separatelydecorate the walls, so that it is far from the fixed influence of traditional painting to a vertical scroll, breaking through the conceptual ideas.

This exhibition will last until October 17. Following that “Chinese Contemporary Youth Ink Painting Yearbook” will enter its third round of the initial Beijing exhibition which will be held in November. During the exhibition, CCAD will also cooperate with several art organizations and the media, unfolding a series of academic activities in various forms, such as lectures, seminars, cross-border dialogues.

Text and photos by Lin Jiabin, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO.