Xu Ning – Starting with a Tear – HISTORY

Tomio Koyama Gallery is pleased to present “Starting with a Tear – HISTORY,” a solo exhibition of works by Xu Ning which centers on a showcasing of eight new paintings.

Xu’s works are conceived by her painstaking precision of painting brushstroke by brushstroke upon a large white canvas with a fine-point brush, while also enabling the coexistence of fortuity created through the accidental splashing and dripping of paint. The vividness, dynamism, and intensity of her colors overwhelm the viewer, and her sincere belief in life, abundant love for nature, and emotion permeate her work. In her practice, Xu has been greatly influenced by her encounters and discoveries of matters across a diverse variety of genres, such as the ancient philosophies of her native China, the reality of Netherlandish painting, the decor and innovation of contemporary fashion, the beauty of nature, and the ephemerality of life, giving rise to a unique and unparalleled appeal.

Xu’s paintings at first glance appear like abstract expressions, yet in many places incorporate the “eyes” of figures in Western paintings of the 14th to 16th centuries which she paints in an elaborate manner, while the flowing lines also represent flowers, butterflies, birds, hands, and so forth. The “hand” in particular is one of the artist’s most important motifs, as it is connected to the heart and represents the mind, as in the Chinese saying, “ten fingers and ten hearts.” From the various people who appear in her work, to the tears that accompany emotions, and the layers of time and history, we welcome viewers to take this opportunity to engage with the new and fascinating world of Xu Ning’s work.

Gallery hours 11 pm – 7 pm, closed Sun, Mon, National Holidays

Exhibition Duration 04.02. – 04.03.2023

www.tomiokoyamagallery.com

Location:
Tomio Koyama Gallery Roppongi
complex665 2F, 6-5-24, Minato-ku
106-0032 Tokyo
Japan