Shen Fan: I have no I
ShanghART M50 is honored to present artist Shen Fan鈥檚 solo exhibition 鈥淚 have no I,鈥 curated by Aimee Lin, running from April 18th to June 28th. Structured around two conceptual pillars鈥斺淐olors鈥 and 鈥淥rigins鈥濃攖he exhibition systematically examines the artist's four-decade-long experimentation with and breakthroughs in abstract painting. The title 鈥淚 have no I鈥 derives from the artist's manifesto, encapsulating the essence of his practice: through dissolving the conventional 鈥渟elf鈥 inherent in expressionist traditions, he achieves a state of egoless purity鈥攐ne that transcends painterly mannerisms to reveal an unmediated, childlike spirit.
Shen Fan (b. 1952) has been regarded as one of the seminal figures of 鈥淪hanghai Abstraction鈥 since the 1980s. His practice is deeply rooted in China鈥檚 era of social transformation and clashing artistic ideologies, yet he demonstrates transcendent wisdom. From landscape sketches during his participation in the Down to the Countryside Movement and his industrial design training in college, to reinventing traditional painting鈥檚 emancipatory spirit through non-expressive methods, Shen forged his artistic identity through 鈥渄epersonalization鈥濃 transforming modernist individualism鈥檚 clamor into a contemporary continuation of classical Chinese art philosophy.
鈥淐olors鈥 showcases the artist鈥檚 decade-long experimentations on canvas, most of which are being exhibited publicly for the first time. Employing color blocks and geometric shapes as fundamental elements, Shen Fan utilizes palette knife scraping, canvas perforation, and pigment permeation techniques to eliminate subjective brushwork, transforming natural and spiritual landscapes into pure visual language. These works, created 鈥渁fter I have no I鈥( quoting the artist), mark a significant transition from a primary color palette to the sophisticated play of diverse colors. They stems from both a capture of fleeting sensations and a contemplation of formal conventions - whether in the visual structure formed by permeating pigment through the warp and weft of the canvas, or in the silvery winter sky recorded by rhythmic brushstrokes, they all reconstruct the essence of freedom in painting through a depersonalized approach.
鈥淥rigins鈥 traces the development of Shen Fan鈥檚 experimental practice since the late 1980s. Employing drafting-style lines, rubbings, and other techniques that eliminate personal touch, the artist progressively dissolved the 鈥渃lamor of self鈥 in his 鈥淰illage鈥 and 鈥淟andscape鈥 series, establishing a minimalist, symbolic, and deliberately flat abstract language.
The exhibition features installation sketches, archival footage, and a decade-long durational work documenting key turning points in Shen鈥檚 practice. These pieces not only reflect the artist鈥檚 astute response to the evolution of contemporary painting and artistic discourse but also reveal the internal logic behind the maturation of his abstract language 鈥 laying the foundation for Shen Fan鈥檚 later pursuit of embodying the spirit of Eastern traditional art through painting in a contemporary context.
鈥淪hen Fan: A Spring River鈥濃 a parallel showcase at Yibo Gallery 鈥 will feature his neon installations and key works from two major series: 鈥淧unctuation鈥 and 鈥淪eal Engravings.鈥 The twin exhibition constructs a holistic narrative of Shen鈥檚 evolving practice.
Recommended for you
ShanghART M50 is honored to present artist Shen Fan鈥檚 solo exhibition 鈥淚 have no I,鈥 curated by Aimee Lin, running from April 18th to June 28th. Structured around two conceptual pillars鈥斺淐olors鈥 and 鈥淥rigins鈥濃攖he exhibition systematically examines the artist's four-decade-long experimentation with and breakthroughs in abstract painting. The title 鈥淚 have no I鈥 derives from the artist's manifesto, encapsulating the essence of his practice: through dissolving the conventional 鈥渟elf鈥 inherent in expressionist traditions, he achieves a state of egoless purity鈥攐ne that transcends painterly mannerisms to reveal an unmediated, childlike spirit.
Shen Fan (b. 1952) has been regarded as one of the seminal figures of 鈥淪hanghai Abstraction鈥 since the 1980s. His practice is deeply rooted in China鈥檚 era of social transformation and clashing artistic ideologies, yet he demonstrates transcendent wisdom. From landscape sketches during his participation in the Down to the Countryside Movement and his industrial design training in college, to reinventing traditional painting鈥檚 emancipatory spirit through non-expressive methods, Shen forged his artistic identity through 鈥渄epersonalization鈥濃 transforming modernist individualism鈥檚 clamor into a contemporary continuation of classical Chinese art philosophy.
鈥淐olors鈥 showcases the artist鈥檚 decade-long experimentations on canvas, most of which are being exhibited publicly for the first time. Employing color blocks and geometric shapes as fundamental elements, Shen Fan utilizes palette knife scraping, canvas perforation, and pigment permeation techniques to eliminate subjective brushwork, transforming natural and spiritual landscapes into pure visual language. These works, created 鈥渁fter I have no I鈥( quoting the artist), mark a significant transition from a primary color palette to the sophisticated play of diverse colors. They stems from both a capture of fleeting sensations and a contemplation of formal conventions - whether in the visual structure formed by permeating pigment through the warp and weft of the canvas, or in the silvery winter sky recorded by rhythmic brushstrokes, they all reconstruct the essence of freedom in painting through a depersonalized approach.
鈥淥rigins鈥 traces the development of Shen Fan鈥檚 experimental practice since the late 1980s. Employing drafting-style lines, rubbings, and other techniques that eliminate personal touch, the artist progressively dissolved the 鈥渃lamor of self鈥 in his 鈥淰illage鈥 and 鈥淟andscape鈥 series, establishing a minimalist, symbolic, and deliberately flat abstract language.
The exhibition features installation sketches, archival footage, and a decade-long durational work documenting key turning points in Shen鈥檚 practice. These pieces not only reflect the artist鈥檚 astute response to the evolution of contemporary painting and artistic discourse but also reveal the internal logic behind the maturation of his abstract language 鈥 laying the foundation for Shen Fan鈥檚 later pursuit of embodying the spirit of Eastern traditional art through painting in a contemporary context.
鈥淪hen Fan: A Spring River鈥濃 a parallel showcase at Yibo Gallery 鈥 will feature his neon installations and key works from two major series: 鈥淧unctuation鈥 and 鈥淪eal Engravings.鈥 The twin exhibition constructs a holistic narrative of Shen鈥檚 evolving practice.
Artists on show
Contact details
What's on nearby
