This exhibition presents artist Zhang Meng’s large-scale multimedia installation “DARK MOSS”, along with oil paintings and wash paintings, all of which are first exhibited in Shenzhen. The theme projective installation “DARK MOSS” is a project captured by artist-in-residence Zhang Meng in volcanic lavic landscapes of A'er Mountain, Greater Hinggan Region.

In the self-acted mono-frequency video, Zhang Meng concealed himself behind a tree, then walked slowly as though practicing walking meditation on an age-old volcanics covered by moss, in an ancient chivalrous swordsman’s manner, at last concealed behind the other tree. There was ritual mysterious exchange between those two vigorous and silent pine tree. Walking through a cragged damp track resembles a poetic adventure. In the distance of one tree to another, some may see their lifetime, some may see present, some may see the world, and some may see the long lasting history of human evolution. All creatures evolve, while remain eternal silence.

The seemingly desolate and incessant volcanics, reversely, are the land of exuberant vitality, on top of which the ancient moss grows silently in rampancy. Moss is the oldest plant and best anchorite of flora. Tracing back to the origin of life, about 4.7 hundred million years ago, bryophyta ground plants aggressively spread across the Earth and became the first stable source of oxygen hence enable intelligent life developed.

Trees, branches, stones, nature, wildness, anchorite, solitude, life, time...... are themes and clues most commonly found in Zhang Meng’s artworks, hidden from trees, from air, from creatures, from earthliness and from emptiness. “The average natural scenes in regular days, become an exclusive residence for spirit of individual freedom. All disturbances return to tranquillity, like a large screen protecting peaceful hearts.” the artist said.

As art critic Zhang Haitao has commented: "Zhang Meng’s video works and wash paintings feature purity. The image compositions and forms of symbol are concise. Virtuality alternates with reality. Mostly the tone is black-and-white based while some works are colorful. His video works also feature implicit sound effect, slow and mild shots. The dynamic symbols either fade out gradually or zoom intensely, consequently the process of time lapses veil the loss of memory and sense of crisis. Same perceptions can be applied to his wash painting: monkeys hidden behind withered tree, virtual and actual strokes, long and round pattern, contrast of thick and light ink, altogether render the monkeys, which look calm, panic feelings. A natural fusion regarding media languages can be seen between Zhang Meng's video works and his wash paintings. Concealing is a strategy and existence manner Zhang Meng has to adopt when confronting this world, but also serves as a path for him to seek spiritual freedom."

 

Academic support: Che Jianquan
Curator: Amber Liu
Exhibition period: 2017.10.28-11.28
Address: The 99 Art Space, Level 1,South Gate,
No 99 Qiaocheng East Road, NanshanDistrict, Shenzhen
Curitorial team: Amita Zinn Viola
Organizers: MOKIK Art, Chase Limited
Co-organizers: The 99 ART SPACE
Technical support: Voice-Light
Performing: Luo Jun, Pan Xingyu
Plant and flower support: Scentyard Floral Design
Media supports: lohas-shenzhen, Arton.net, Sina, Oeeee, Amelie, Shenzhen art map, Sznews, Zhuoke arts
Sponsor: Chase Limited

 

《DARK MOSS》
--Zhang Meng

The sky reveals a bluish hue
When the mist dissipates
Age-old volcanics dotted with
Atrovien lichen
Face towards ancient woods
Back against steep cliff
Gently step in riverbed
Cattle cover everywhere
Wade through chilly creek
Chew various herbs
Light dims dusk approaches
Drowsily droplets fall

 

“I don’t know if the following conclusion is correct: If Arxan is regardedas the object of observation or aesthetics, what the artist first sees throughthis “mirror” is probably symbols, images, hues and scenes, as well as a certain emotion or idea, that he usually uses.”
--He Beili (A doctor of anthropology in PekingUniversity）

 

 

Painting: Rocks, Hand Scroll
Chinese Ink on Chinese Art Paper
 Size：65cm
 Time：2016

 

 

Painting: Branches, Hand Scroll
Chinese Ink on Chinese Art Paper
Size：90cm
Time：2016

“The notion of eternity in Zhang Meng’s artworks, such as time, vitality, and allergy of memories, enables oriental classical thoughts underlie transformation. How to transform simple naturalism into contemporary recognition of lived experience in realistic society? The artist metaphorically employs metonymy to “Imply now by then, imply person by object”. Zhang Meng’s motives derive from memories and individual living states. He attempts to convey individual anxieties and confusions, pry and probe into alienated society. Hence gaining an insight into his artworks there are concerns on present circumstances rather than symbols of fashion. This modernity in the notion of “Practices without practicing” is a crystal of oriental wisdom.
——Zhang Haitao (Art critics, Curator)

 

 

Zhang Meng is an artist, associate professor, Supervisor of Postgraduate, the dean of the Department of Photography and Image Art of Tianjin Academy of Fine Art (TAFA). Born in May, 1972. Graduated from the Printmaking Department of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 1996, and the Oil Painting Department of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 2006. As the head of the Video Art Department (former Digital Media Art Department) at the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts from 2004 to the present. Founded the Digital Media Art Specialty of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 2004, and the Mobile Media Arts Specialty in 2009. A member of the academic committee of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts. He has spent many years studying and teaching new media art. In 2009, he established the Identical Factory MediaLab, which is devoted to new media services and research. His creation based on video and painting. Zhang Meng is a multi-media artist, and his work hovers between 3D animation, multi-channel video, painting, and installation. His works have been exhibited at important art institutions in Germany, the United States, Japan, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and South Korea.He attempts to reveal the relationship between space and time at China’scurrent era. Zhang’s work has been collected by cultural institutions and individuals. He has twice been invited to participate in the Kobe Biennale.

Zhang Meng is also an expert in urban design, and he was responsible for the design of the new media art section at the Tianjin Summer Davos Economic Forum (2010,2012,2014,2016). Beginning with the combination of urban traditional culture and contemporary aesthetics, he emphasized the synchronicity of the traditional and the contemporary and the admixture of artistic and technological strategies. His designs highlight low-carbon, environmentally-friendly, and sustainable development concepts, injecting new ideas into modern urban and human spaces that integrate traditional culture and human history.

 

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions
2017 Mottled Light and Shadow - Zhang Meng Solo Exhibition, Kui Yuan Gallery, Guangzhou
2016 Wind Blows-Zhang Meng solo exhibition, Today Art Museum, Beijing
2013 Hide - ZhangMeng Solo Exhibition, Minnesota University Museum, Minnesota, USA
Micro Hide - ZhangMeng Solo Exhibition, Chengdu
2011 Hidden in the Tree - Zhang Meng Solo Exhibition, Qingdao Art Museum, Qingdao
2007 Family Box- ZhangMeng solo exhibition, Maijie Art Center, Beijing;

Group Exhibitions
2017 Port City Kobe Art Festival, Video, kobe, Japan
Reciprocal Enlightenment: The third Academy Experimental Art Documentary Exhibition, Video, CAFA Museum, Beijing
2015 Black Dimension - The Gaze of Orpheus, Photograph & Installation, Ying Art Center, Shanghai
RETURN -Riverside Art Mseum Opening Ceremary, Painting, Riverside Art Mseum, Beijing
New Order - The Ying Art Center Opening Exhibition, Video&Painting, Ying Art Center, Shanghai
Microcosmos, Video&Painting, Babu ArtCenter, Shenzhen
2014 Ink: Zen or Revolution, Video&Painting, Minnesota University Museum, Minnesota, USA
2013 Kobe Biennale 2013, Video, Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, Kobe, Japan
The first China - Asian Biennale, Video, The Association of South-east Asian nations Culture Square, Nanning
The Garden of Forking Paths - Exploring Independent Animation, Video, OCT Shanghai, ShanghaiBoundary- Chinese American new Media exhibition, Video, Tianjin Academy of fine Arts Museum, Tianjin
2012 Open Sky, Video, Changjiang Department of Contemporary Museum, Chongqing
Isomer, Video, Screenage Art Phenomenon Exhibition, National Agriculture Exhibition Center, Beijing Travel Far and Wide- Morden Art Exhibition, ID Mall, Changsha
Secret Scene Super Media Art Exhibition, Video, Olympic Sports Center, Beijing
2011 Break Boundaries, Sunshine International Art Musem, Beijing
Explore Osaka and Kobe - The Artistic Conception of Haruki Murakami, Video, BB Art museum, OSAKA Japan
Kobe Biennale Exhibition, Video, Kobe Art Museum, Japan
Explore Osaka and Kobe -The Artistic Conception of Haruki Murakami, Video, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Tianjin
Cognate False and Truth - Beijing New Media Art Annual Exhibition, video, Songzhuang Art Center, Beijing
n/1 Mixed Media Exhibition, Video, National Agriculture Exhibition Center, Beijing
2010 Mongolian Sea, Video, The 4th Chongqing Film and Video Festival, Chongqing
Mongolian Sea, Photograph, 2010 Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao
2010 China Songzhuang Art Festival, NewMedia, Sunshine International Art Musem, Beijing
Ways and Space of Ink Painting, Painting, Songzhuang Art Center, Beijing
2010 Screenage Art DocumentExhibition, NewMedia, Songzhuang Art Center, Beijing
2009 Tree In the Roof, New Media, Songzhuang ArtCenter, Beijing Rainy Night, Photograph, 2009 Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao
2008 Weightlessness, Video, Nanjing Museum&The University of Florida Art Museum, Nanjing& Florida Very Comprehensive, Painting, Alexander Art Space, Freiburg, Germany Mongolian Mountain, Video, 2008 Pingyao International Photogragh Festival, Pingyao Outside the Fence, Painting, Antwerp, Belgium
2007 Stubborn, Photograph, Western Art Museum, Tianjin
Sunday, Photograph, 2007 Pingyao International Photograph Festival, Pingyao
2006 City Contradiction, Video, Melbourne&Sydney, Australia
Every Sunday in 21st Century, Photography, 2006 Pingyao International Photograph Festival, Pingyao
2005 China Sunday, Photography, MuseumGallery, Canada
Sunday, Photography, 2005 Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao
2004 We Exist 1, Photography, Tianjin Dingtian Art Museum, Tianjin
2002 Old Ink Exhibition, Painting, Tianjin Jinwan Newspaper Art Center, Tianjin
1995 Zhangmeng & Yu Xiangming Joint Exhibition, Painting, Tianjin