Chen Yujun's Dual Shanghai Exhibitions Explore Nature, Memory, and Domesticity
In Shanghai, Chen Yujun held two solo exhibitions. The first, titled 'The River Never Remembers,' took place at Arario Gallery from February 25 to March 31. This exhibition featured his monochrome ink series Mulan River No.1 (2013) alongside twelve mixed-media pieces that illustrated water textures. An installation named Origin of Food (2017) included stones and wood paired with a black-and-gold painting of an uprooted tree. Other notable works were Rite (2014) and Wooden House No. 20130608 (2013). The second exhibition, 'The House Cannot Forget,' occurred at Bank from February 25 to April 16, presenting a reimagined domestic environment using recycled materials, including pieces like Four Seasons No. 1221 (2013) and Banquet No.1 (2016), focusing on family dynamics and humanity's efforts to control nature.
Key facts
- Chen Yujun had two solo exhibitions in Shanghai: 'The River Never Remembers' at Arario Gallery and 'The House Cannot Forget' at Bank.
- 'The River Never Remembers' was on view from February 25 to March 31, 2017.
- 'The House Cannot Forget' was on view from February 25 to April 16, 2017.
- The Mulan River No.1 series (2013) consists of twelve mixed-media ink paintings depicting water with references to shan shui aesthetics.
- The exhibition included the installation Origin of Food (2017) with objects arranged like shrine offerings.
- A paifang archway from the Temporary Constructions series (2013–) marked the entrance to the Bank exhibition.
- Works like Four Seasons No. 1221 (2013) and Ours No.3 (2016) evoked family gatherings during Lunar New Year.
- A recent sculpture showed a house-like structure suspended by rope from driftwood, highlighting fragility and nature's course.
Entities
Artists
- Chen Yujun
Institutions
- Arario Gallery
- Bank
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Shanghai
- China
- Putian