Geng Dayou's Nihilistic Sculptures at Shanghart
Geng Dayou's exhibition 'When No One Is Around, Dance Gracefully' at Shanghart in Shanghai presents five sculptural assemblages that blend nihilism, playfulness, and melancholia. Works like 'Centipede' (2023) feature cast iron handles winding from floor to ceiling, evoking emergency exits and monkey bars, with finger-grip indentations suggesting desperate clinging and release. 'Continued Recursion' (2023) shows metal bowling balls with excessive finger holes scattered before a white slope, implying games without players. 'Gear' (2023) depicts interlinked electricity pylons in an erotic, graceful dance. Created after Shanghai's pandemic lockdowns, the works meditate on withdrawal, trauma, and isolation. The exhibition runs from 15 July to 2 September.
Key facts
- Geng Dayou studied psychology at university.
- The exhibition includes five sculptural assemblages.
- Works are from 2023.
- Centipede uses cast iron handles with finger-grip indentations.
- Continued Recursion features metal bowling balls with finger holes.
- Gear depicts interlinked electricity pylons.
- The exhibition title is 'When No One Is Around, Dance Gracefully'.
- Shanghai experienced stringent lockdown rules during the pandemic.
Entities
Artists
- Geng Dayou
Institutions
- Shanghart
Locations
- Shanghai
- China