"Zhou Tiehai 1989-2003"
2004-03-01 until 2004-03-31
ShanghArt
Shanghai, , CN China

During March, Shangart presents a solo show 'Zhou Tiehai 1989-2003'. "Zhou Tiehai has been one of the most important Chinese artists on the international scene in the last few years. He is known for his creative peculiarity and for the personal role he plays. He was born in Shanghai, where he still lives and works, and he reflects this modern and rapidly growing city in his outlook," states Eleonora Battiston. Zhou Tiehai, born in 1966, got First Prize, Contemporary Chinese Art Award, (CCAA Association, Switzerland) in 1989, now lives and works in Shanghai.

"His symbolic figure declines every kind of classification and categorisation. He is his own agent, his own spectator and at the same time he is his own self-critic as well as a critic for the art of his times. He is a sort of “meta-critic” He perceptively examines the observations that foreigners and Chinese mutually make and studies the surrounding environment to understand the tendencies and demands which he satisfies with exceptional speed and ability.

"In fact, from his work it is easy to understand that his point of view is not exclusively Chinese nor Occidental but he seems to observe his own people with Western eyes and to observe the rest of the world with typical Chinese curiosity.

"Zhou Tiehai knows what he wants and how to obtain it. In one of his creations, the winking Joe Camel addresses everyone with the phrase, 'Hurry up! The history of art won’t wait for you!' This is a parody of a famous Chinese proverb that says it is not great if you do not climb to the top."

--Eleonora Battiston

IMAGE
Zhou Tiehai
Placebo - Laura, Giorgione, 1506
130 x 85 cm
acrylic (airbrush) on synthetic canvas
2002

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for China

Other Important Exhibitions in China