Chen Fei's 'Sometimes' at Perrotin: A Transition in Painterly Vocabulary
Chen Fei's exhibition titled 'Sometimes' at Perrotin signifies a pivotal shift in his artistic journey, moving away from personal storytelling to delve into themes of identity, fiction, and surface. This event follows his 2025 showcase 'Father and Child' at The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, which focused on the close bond with his daughter. In 'Sometimes', Chen revitalizes his painting techniques, experimenting with genre, surface, composition, and narrative in a more dynamic and material-driven manner. Having worked with figuration for over twenty years, he traditionally employed acrylic paint for its quick-drying and clear qualities; however, his latest pieces transcend the medium's typical flatness, incorporating textured effects that challenge the smooth surface. The exhibition at Perrotin continues to explore his enduring themes of family, intimacy, identity, social roles, taste, and the blurred lines between private experiences and public personas.
Key facts
- Chen Fei's solo exhibition 'Sometimes' is at Perrotin.
- The exhibition follows his 2025 solo show 'Father and Child' at The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art.
- 'Sometimes' marks a transitional moment in Chen's practice.
- Chen has worked in figuration for more than two decades.
- He often uses acrylic paint for its speed, clarity, and capacity to generate an almost frictionless image.
- In recent works, he introduces tactile effects that complicate the smooth surface.
- The exhibition explores themes of family, intimacy, identity, social roles, taste, and the boundary between private and public.
- The source URL is from artdaily.cc.
Entities
Artists
- Chen Fei
Institutions
- Perrotin
- The Watari Museum of Contemporary Art