At 3:00 pm on March 21, 2015, “The Reason for Four Artists Showcasing Four Paintings – the Transmutation of Languages by the Artists from ‘Sifang (Quartet) Studio’” opened at 1618 Art Space in Shenzhen, the exhibition earlier presented at SZ Art Space in Beijing, and then the tour exhibition moves to Shenzhen, and it continues to May 12.

The exhibition only exhibits four works by four artists, which have attracted a lot of audiences to visit. The 4 artists respectively feature a recent work, including “Expression” the pastel painting by Su Xinping, “Untitled” the work of acrylic by Tan Ping, “Farming” the oil painting by Wang Huaxiang as well as Zhou Jirong’s “Mirage” the work of comprehensive print. It also features the images and texts of the previous works by the artists to cooperate the exhibition, in order to outline the developing context of the art language of the 4 artists, to tell the specific reason for 4 artists showcasing 4 paintings.

At the opening ceremony Doctor Liu Libin from CAFA addressed that “Sifang” contained the geographical conceptual metaphor of “coming from the quartet”, and also contained the planning of artistic direction for the development of the “Access to the Quartet”; referring to the 4 print categories, and publicizing the creative spirit of freedom. In addition, language was still a major issue in contemporary art. The works of the 4 artists reveal different languages, reflecting their current state of creation. It was the original intention that through the works to comb through their thoughts.

In 1997, the four artists, engaged in different print categories, composed of the “Sifang (Quartet) Studio”, including Su Xinping who is engaged in lithographic creations, Tan Ping who is engaged in copperplate creations, Wang Huaxiang who is engaged in woodcut creations, and Zhou Jirong who is engaged in screen printing creations.

After 17 years, the four artists reunited at the same exhibition. The artist Wang Huaxiang, Director of the Department of Printmaking, CAFA, said that, “We reunite like an old band. During this period, China has experienced great changes, and our works also carry self mental courses and changes of the country. A piece of work, is not only a simple painting, but is like a chip, containing the characteristics of the times.”

10 years ago, the Sifang (Quartet) Studio once showcased work at Shenzhen Art Museum, Liang Yu, Vice Chairman of Shenzhen Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Artists Association recalled and said that it only showcased the prints at that time, while the 4 artists crossed the boundary of print today, presenting the work of mixed media and oil painting, etc.

Yin Shuangxi, Ph.D. supervisor, the School of Humanities, CAFA, Editor-in-Chief of “Art Research” said that, we should think about the contribution and value of art to us, and the persistence of the 4 artists was a good case.

Text and Photo by 1618 Art Space, translated by Chen Peihua and edited by Sue/CAFA ART INFO