Tu Hongtao: Dusk
Dusk is an exhibition of new works by China-based artist Tu Hongtao that occupy an expressive realm between figural landscapes and abstraction. Tu鈥檚 lyrical paintings are inspired by his itinerant journeying鈥攊n the mountainous regions of his hometown Chengdu and beyond鈥攁nd draw on a deep personal knowledge of classical traditions of Chinese painting and poetry. Unveiling his most recent body of work, Dusk introduces 10 paintings whose sweeping compositions reflect the artist鈥檚 meditations on the rapidly modernizing world.
The exhibition at LGDR is Tu Hongtao鈥檚 first solo presentation in Paris, following his European debut at L茅vy Gorvy London in 2020. New paintings by Tu will be concurrently on view in LGDR鈥檚 Frieze Seoul presentation, and work by the artist will feature in the gallery鈥檚 booth at Paris+ par Art Basel.
The title Dusk carries many meanings for the artist. Referencing an 8th century poem by the great Tang dynasty poet Du Fu, the concept of 鈥榙usk鈥� became a guiding principle for Tu in thinking about our historical moment and its manifold challenges. It also suggests transience鈥攖he obscure yet inspiring state before the total darkness of night, which eventually will give way to dawn and new beginnings.
Premiering in LGDR鈥檚 Paris exhibition, Tu鈥檚 latest body of work looks to the manifold components of natural landscapes: the intertwining of mountains and flora and processes of organic growth in relation to climate, time, and soil. The panoramic compositions of Mountains and Rivers (2020鈥�22) and The Valley After Rain (2020鈥�21) exemplify Tu鈥檚 expert layering of different experiences and impressions. The somber colors reflect the artist鈥檚 internal struggle with the global effects of the pandemic as well as personal loss. Tu鈥檚 turn to nature as a source of both structure and disruption becomes evident in The Dynamic Pine Branch (2021) and Shifo Mountain (2021-22), which suggest distinct objects and locales yet dissolve into lush abstract rhythms. For Tu, the formations of vegetation and water, valleys and mountains are both convoluted and fluid, obscuring and revealing, capable of undoing the perspectival order of traditional landscape paintings. The resulting paintings bear witness to the non-linear narratives and complex spatio-temporal systems that Tu considers characteristic of existence in the contemporary world. Resolute and majestic, they seek strength from history and nature to consider the foundations of perception and painting.
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Dusk is an exhibition of new works by China-based artist Tu Hongtao that occupy an expressive realm between figural landscapes and abstraction. Tu鈥檚 lyrical paintings are inspired by his itinerant journeying鈥攊n the mountainous regions of his hometown Chengdu and beyond鈥攁nd draw on a deep personal knowledge of classical traditions of Chinese painting and poetry. Unveiling his most recent body of work, Dusk introduces 10 paintings whose sweeping compositions reflect the artist鈥檚 meditations on the rapidly modernizing world.
The exhibition at LGDR is Tu Hongtao鈥檚 first solo presentation in Paris, following his European debut at L茅vy Gorvy London in 2020. New paintings by Tu will be concurrently on view in LGDR鈥檚 Frieze Seoul presentation, and work by the artist will feature in the gallery鈥檚 booth at Paris+ par Art Basel.
The title Dusk carries many meanings for the artist. Referencing an 8th century poem by the great Tang dynasty poet Du Fu, the concept of 鈥榙usk鈥� became a guiding principle for Tu in thinking about our historical moment and its manifold challenges. It also suggests transience鈥攖he obscure yet inspiring state before the total darkness of night, which eventually will give way to dawn and new beginnings.
Premiering in LGDR鈥檚 Paris exhibition, Tu鈥檚 latest body of work looks to the manifold components of natural landscapes: the intertwining of mountains and flora and processes of organic growth in relation to climate, time, and soil. The panoramic compositions of Mountains and Rivers (2020鈥�22) and The Valley After Rain (2020鈥�21) exemplify Tu鈥檚 expert layering of different experiences and impressions. The somber colors reflect the artist鈥檚 internal struggle with the global effects of the pandemic as well as personal loss. Tu鈥檚 turn to nature as a source of both structure and disruption becomes evident in The Dynamic Pine Branch (2021) and Shifo Mountain (2021-22), which suggest distinct objects and locales yet dissolve into lush abstract rhythms. For Tu, the formations of vegetation and water, valleys and mountains are both convoluted and fluid, obscuring and revealing, capable of undoing the perspectival order of traditional landscape paintings. The resulting paintings bear witness to the non-linear narratives and complex spatio-temporal systems that Tu considers characteristic of existence in the contemporary world. Resolute and majestic, they seek strength from history and nature to consider the foundations of perception and painting.
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LGDR is presenting Dusk, an exhibition of new works by China-based artist Tu Hongtao that occupy an expressive realm between figural landscapes and abstraction.
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