Mao Xuhui's First Italian Retrospective Opens at Palazzo Grimani in Venice

Palazzo Grimani in Venice hosts 'Emergence of the Patriarch', the first Italian retrospective of Chinese painter Mao Xuhui (born 1956 in Kunming). Curated by Lü Peng, Li Guohua, and Carlotta Scarpa, the exhibition spans the artist's career, from his 1990s expressionist-symbolist works to his more recent figurative paintings. A standout piece is 'Under the Firmament Soil' (2019-2023), a large canvas depicting a mass of naked figures morphing into pigs. Mao is known for his recurring motifs: scissors (1990s-2000s) and the 'Patriarch' series (early 1990s), which use objects like arches and chairs to critique power structures. His latest works, including the 2025 diptych 'Dianchi Waltz: Youth' and 'Dianchi Waltz: Twilight Years', contrast a youthful spring scene with an aged winter counterpart, reflecting on time's passage. The exhibition contextualizes Mao's work within China's tumultuous second half of the 20th century, from the Civil War and Cultural Revolution to the country's rise as a superpower.