The Vision out of Image——YU Youhan Prints and Multiples
Opening reception: Sept 21, 2013 (Sat), 4-7 pm
Duration: Sept 22 -- Oct 31,2013
Address: Ren Space No.10, Lane 133, Shang Wen Road, Huang Pu District, Shanghai, China 200010
Tel: 8621 6346 2033
Email: info@renspace.net
Ren Space is pleased to present “The vision out of Image”, and exhibition of new lithography prints and multiples by the most outstanding Chinese artist Yu Youhan. This is Yu Youhan’s first solo exhibition with Ren Space. Meanwhile,this is also a grand opening for Ren Space in Shanghai. An opening reception will be held Saturday, September 21st, 4-7pm.
Yu Youhan continues to shine as one of the giants and pioneers of Chinese contemporary art. He is one of most widely exhibited and collected contemporary Chinese artist of this era.An artist unafraid to transform his artistic style, Yu Youhan mirrors the turbulent societal changes in modern China over the last half century with his early expressionist works in the 1970s, abstract “circles” of the 1980s, political pop art of 1990s, pastoral paintings of the 2000s and now a re-exploration of “circles” in a new medium. Through his works images, we could clear to see the artist’s concern and thought on the vision of the whole environment.
The abstract work series has played a generative role in Yu Youhan’s career of the past decades.So through this exhibition, we will try to trace the development of his abstract works, the exhibition will present some of Yu Youhan’s early abstract landscape paintings of the old town in Shanghai, which is the most beginning of his abstract work when he got the influence of some western abstract artists, such as Cezanne, Van Gogh, Mondrian, Paul Klee etc. Some early “Circle” series on paper from 80‘s also will be included in this exhibition. Meanwhile, a series of new works of art in limited edition lithograph will be present. In 2012, this search led to his first explorations of lithography and original prints. Created in collaboration with a world-renown print studio in Los Angeles, these prints represent a new artistic direction for Yu Youhan and a pioneering effort for contemporary art in China.
YU Youhan was born in Shanghai in 1943. He graduated from the Central Academy of Art and Design, Beijing in 1973. Now he resides and works in Shanghai. YU Youhan's work has shown widely nationally as well as internationally. Recent exhibitions include: 2×Helbling in Shanghai, IG Halle, Kunst(zeug)haus, Rapperswil, Switzerland (2012); Yu Youhan's Paintings, ShanghART H-Space, Shanghai (2011); Out of Shanghai, Museum gegenstandsfreier Kunst, Otterndorf, Germany (2009); Writing on the Wall, Chinese New Realism and Avant-Garde in the Eighties and Nineties, The Groninger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands (2008); Study Practice, Shanghai Gallery of Art, Shanghai (2005); Chine, le Corps Partout?, Musee d'Art Contemporain, Paris, France (2004); Museum of Contemporary Art, Marseilles, France (2004) and Landscape of Yi Mengshan, ShanghART H-Space, Shanghai (2004). He has also exhibited in the 22nd Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil (1994); the 45th Venice Biennale, Italy (1993) and the 1st Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, Australia (1991).
Anchored in the old town neighborhood of Shanghai, Ren Space is an arts space committed to an international cross-disciplinary program of artist and curatorial residencies, exhibitions, workshop and talks. Ren Space serves as a platform and laboratory for exchange between the vibrant artists and organizations of Shanghai’s rich cultural landscape and their international counterparts who seek to engage in far-reaching dialogue. Meanwhile, Ren Space also held an Artist in Residence in US for artist limited edition programme.