Zhang Yunyao's graphite-on-felt paintings reinterpret classical Western forms at Shanghai's Qiao Space

Zhang Yunyao's exhibition 'Palace of Extasy' at Qiao Space in Shanghai presents 16 large-scale graphite-on-felt paintings that reinterpret classical Greek and Roman sculptures. The Shanghai-based artist has worked with this unconventional medium since 2011, exploiting its tendency to smudge and soil. His hyperrealist depictions of mythological figures like Perseus and Heracles appear fragmented and over-drawn, creating a sense of disquiet. Zhang's work examines how Western classical forms have been appropriated as symbols of authority throughout history, from ancient civilizations to Renaissance revivals and their adoption by Soviet and Chinese Communist regimes. The exhibition ran from 10 October 2019 to 12 January 2020. ArtReview Asia critic Julie Chun notes that these classical references have little direct context in China, though they influenced socialist-realist art during the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). Specific works include 'Study in Figures (avidatia)' (2017), showing a decapitated Perseus, and 'Release' (2018), depicting Heracles fighting a lion. Zhang's paintings highlight the transgressive nature of domination that accompanies idealized forms.