Liu Ye's Dreamlike Paintings at Fondazione Prada, Milan

Fondazione Prada in Milan presents 'Storytelling', a solo exhibition of Chinese artist Liu Ye (born 1964, Beijing), curated by Udo Kittelmann. The show features 35 works created since 1992, including paintings like 'Romeo' (2002) depicting a suicide in a dreamlike atmosphere, and 'Daydream' (1997) showing a figure asleep at a table. Liu Ye's acrylics often include illustrated books, such as one documenting 'cento dipinti floreali' from the Song dynasty (10th-13th century), and abstract paintings referencing Mondrian. The exhibition explores themes of dreaming, revolution, and Chinese art history, including the 'Hundred Flowers Movement' (1956-1957) and the 'Great Sparrow Campaign' of the 1950s. Works like 'Bird on Bird' (2011) and 'Flower No.1' (2011-12) engage with traditional Chinese flower-and-bird painting. Female figures appear frequently, including portraits of writer Eileen Chang (2004), silent film star Ruan Lingyu (2018), and actress Catherine Deneuve (2012). Books are a recurring motif, with covers of Karl Blossfeldt's 'Urformen der Kunst' (1928), Franz Kafka's 'America', Bauhaus texts, and 'Histoire d'O'. The exhibition was previously shown at Villa Rong Zhai in Shanghai in 2018. The Milan venue features monochromatic walls designed by Rem Koolhaas.