Memories of Fangzhuang

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA. On Oct 12, 2018, from 6-8 PM, E-Moderne Gallerie at 1229 Chestnut St., will present a Solo Exhibition of International acclaimed Chinese Artist Xue YaoJun.

The exhibition featured a new direction of the artist's collection, a departure from his previously environmentally focused works. The Memories of Fangzhuang collection captured the scenic countryside of the artist home village emphasizes the pure beauty of rural life, an unprecedented achievement.

Xue Yaojun Artist Bio.
Xue Yaojun was born in Beijing China in 1965. Graduated at the Beijing University in 2001, previously live and work in Yixing, China. A region is famous for their handcrafted clay teapot. Now working and living in Beijing China.

Xue focuses on Representationalism arts; He insists on combining techniques and concepts, expressing his inner voice through realistic & impressionistic style. He lives in China; the country embraces the paradoxical environment, where full of tension and harshness. Xue grasps the subtle differences among surroundings in everyday life. He uses surrealism to represent the emotion, the anxiety, the struggle, the desire and the joy he experienced, observed from his surroundings, families, objects, and incidents in his life. His new series of artwork resonates viewers' feeling of families, particularly influenced by the simple joy of country life.

Xue Yaojun’s solo exhibition “The Memories of Fangzhuang” present the artist’s latest series of oil paintings. (Fangzhuang is located in the south of China and has the charm of the infamous Jiangnan Style.) The hometown of the artist, and the subjects of his new collection.

Background of the exhibition:
The artist saw the problem of rapid economic development in his country, exposed social ills such as money worshiping and lack of belief have polluted the society. Ultimately his decision is to abandon the suffocating metropolis as the only viable solution to replenished his artistic spirit. He long for the rejuvenation offered by the rural communities, hope it will nurture his temperament and cultivated him spiritually.

The inspiration of the Artworks:
Xue Yaojun's Fangzhuang is a primitive and quiet. A slow pace and a simple naturalistic world, just like the farming culture before the invasion of industrial civilization in China. Combining his memory with the present reality, Xue created a mysterious world with the surrealistic narrative. It is beautiful and magical. The artist wanted to hold on to this familiar but yet fast forgotten world, he hopes his viewers will slow down and return to the pure simple humanity for a short moment to share the magic through his artworks.

Critic’s Observation:
Xue had never encountered the work of French artist Paul Gauguin, coincidentally the longing to escape the society they shared. Gauguin over a century ago made an escape to the island of Tahiti. While Xue escapes to his hometown. The elements on their paintings such vigorous young natives, brilliant colored flowers, simplistic approach to the landscape can draw synchronized parallel to their works.

Artistic Style:
Xue Yaojun's works incorporate multiple disciplines such as expressionism, figurative, representationalism, impressionism. but no one dominant style represents it all. Besides the obvious Gauguin influences, the barely exposed Degas-like dark palette that bore the influence of Dutch painting gave way to the use of vivid colors and bold brushstrokes. Like a "snapshots," freezing moments of time to portray his subjects accurately, imparting a sense of movement. His playful Myth and youth series the style draw parallel to the Italian Renaissance fresco paintings. The images intensified view from a distance. Reflect the Xue's extraordinary capacity regarding painting.

Exhibition History:
2015 Group exhibition, E-Moderne Gallerie, Philadelphia, PA. USA
2015 "W.E + Public Art Festival" Manhattan, NY, NY. USA
2014 British BP Global International painting portraits Competition
2014 "Village Sao" selected Twelfth National Art Exhibition in Hebei Province Exhibition and won the outstanding award
2013 Time Gallery Figurative Art Exhibition Light Space "Special Value Award" and "Special Achievement Award"
2009 Rebueno Gallery "flash Artists"
2009 Solo exhibition, SongZhuang A zone
2008 Berlin International Painting Exhibition, Selected works
2008 Austria "Contemporary Chinese Painting Exhibition"
2008 SongZhuang "New eyeliner Art Exhibition"
2004 Jiangsu Province Art Competition Excellence Award
2004 Nanjing Institute of the Arts student
Solo exhibition
2009 Solo exhibition, SongZhuang A zone
2018 Solo exhibition, E-Moderne Gallerie
Group exhibition
2017 American Whipple Art Museum, China Contemporary Art Painting Tour
2015 Group exhibition, E-Moderne Gallerie, Philadelphia, PA. USA
2015 "W.E + Public Art Festival" Manhattan, NY, NY. USA
2009 Rebueno Gallery "flash Artists "
2008 Berlin International Painting Exhibition, selected works
2008 Austria "Contemporary Chinese Painting Exhibition"
2008 SongZhuang "New eyeliner Art Exhibition"
Award-winning experience
2014 British BP Global International painting portraits Competition
2014 "Village Sao" selected Twelfth National Art Exhibition in Hebei Province Exhibition and won the outstanding award
2013 Time Gallery Figurative Art Exhibition Light Space "Special Value Award" and "Special Achievement Award"
2004 Jiangsu Province Art Competition Excellence Award
2004 Nanjing Institute of the Arts student