Beijing, Oct 8 2009, for immediate release
F2 Gallery presents the first solo exhibition in Beijing of Cao Yingbin titled "People's Park" with a selection of his recent paintings, works on paper and sculptures from November 14, 2009 to February 7, 2010.
The solo exhibition is a selected survey of Cao Yingbin's artistic practice from the past few years. As a member of the 70s generation, Cao's work is largely inspired by nostalgic memories of the 80s and 90s, as well as traditional Chinese culture. In some of his work, the characters, objects, scenes-such as the Monkey King, candy wrappers and nightly rides on an old bus-can be seen as seemly insignificant parts of China's daily life back then; however, now when they make their reappearances in Cao's work, the things are no longer as simple as they were, but rather what they represent-reflections of the transitional times and a society that underwent dramatic cultural and economic transformations. In Cao's work, the subjects are not only memories but also witnesses of this change, nevertheless from the most ordinary and day-by-day point of view.
Cao utilizes a simple, straightforward approach, as well as an almost child-like drawing style in his works that also mirrors the beliefs in his artistic life; whether it is a single object or a diptych of views from an apartment window, they are all scenes of life that we often ignore or overlook. They are constant reminders of things that we used to cherish even if it is only a candy wrapper. Cao reveals the sensibility and poetry within the everyday mundane, turns "the good, the bad and the ugly" into something graced with simple beauty.
"Everything is in my works, they speak for themselves," says Cao when talking about the concepts behind his praxis. When viewing Cao's work, especially for the audiences of the 70s and 80s generation from China, viewers will understand Cao's words, and each and every one of them will have stories and memories of their own to complete the meaning behind the works.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Cao Yingbin was born in Henan Province in1971, and graduated from Henan University in Kaifeng with a BFA in 1995. From 1996, Cao has been exhibiting widely within China. His recent selected exhibitions include Attitude, Shit-Art Center, Zhengzhou (2009); In the Mood for Paper, F2 Gallery, Beijing (2009); Representing the Commune, Shifo Art, Luoyang (2008); No One Can Beat Me, Aura Gallery, Shanghai (2006); Time, Zhengzhou Sculpture Painting and Calligraphy Institute (2005), Zhengzhou. Cao now lives and works in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.
ABOUT F2 GALLERY
F2 Gallery is located in the cutting-edge Caochangdi area of Beijing adjacent to the world-renowned 798 Art District. The gallery is set in an idyllic courtyard and distinguishes itself by its lush surroundings, reflecting the very private relationship that the owners have with their clients and the artists whose work they represent and collect.
F2 Gallery aims to contribute to the cross-cultural exchange of blue chip and cutting edge contemporary art, in all its forms, between China and the West. Furthermore, F2 Gallery provides specialist consultancy services to artists, private clients, corporations, public institutions and museums. |
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