Nestled in the heart of Beijing, the Gravity Art Museum becomes a repository of the profound and evocative artistic journey of Xue Ruozhe, as it unveils a comprehensive collection of the artist’s creations spanning from 2011 to 2023. “Gaze: Xue Ruozhe Early Career Survey” unfolds as a narrative, detailing over a decade of the artist’s insightful explorations, emotional expressions, and his unique lens through which he perceives time and existence.
In this pivotal exhibition, the first solo showcase dedicated to Xue in a prestigious Beijing art institution, over 80 pieces of his multi-medium works are meticulously arranged, narrating the prolific artist’s evolution, and inviting attendees to immerse themselves into the realm of his artistic consciousness. Displayed across three thematic sections: ‘The Eyes Can’t Meet’, ‘Concentration’, and ‘The House of Inner View’, the exhibition masterfully intertwines elements of temporality, reflection, and intimate introspection.
One striking series showcased is ‘YYYY-MM-DD’, a powerful ode to the silent, yet insistent passage of time, embodied through still flower paintings. What sets this series apart is the clearly marked date and time of creation on each piece, serving as a reminder of the transient beauty of each moment, a snapshot that preserves a particular instant in the infinite flow of time. Xue disclosed that the inspiration behind this remarkable series emanated from the birth of his youngest daughter, turning personal sentiment into universal introspection about growth, change, and the inexorable march of time. The series, as revealed by the artist, will perpetuate until the final days of his life, becoming a poignant timeline of his existence and artistic journey.
Curator Yang Tiange commended Xue’s knack for encapsulating raw, unfiltered emotion and existential musings in his creations. The distinct sections of the exhibition guide visitors through a journey of varied emotional and perceptual states. ‘The Eyes Can’t Meet’ conjures a realm where perceivable reality and emotional tangibility diverge, while ‘Concentration’ draws spectators into a focused exploration of inner and outer worlds. Finally, ‘The House of Inner View’ opens a window into the introspective and reflective dimensions of the artist’s experiences and expressions.
The exhibition, which allows visitors to traverse through thematic, emotional, and chronological explorations of Xue’s works, is more than a mere display. It becomes a dialogue, an exchange between the artist’s revelations and the spectator’s perceptions, each piece becoming a conversation starter about themes as diverse as time, existence, emotion, and perception. As visitors engage with Xue’s paintings, prints, and video works, they are invited not only to gaze but to see, to look beyond the visible and delve into a sea of emotive and existential depth.
Running until December 17, the exhibition is poised to be a sanctuary for art enthusiasts, providing a serene space to reflect upon the gentle interplay between artistic expression and temporal passage, and to gaze upon the poignant beauty encapsulated within each moment seized by Xue Ruozhe’s evocative creations.
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