Opening: 7th January, 4:00PM – 6:30PM
Duration: 7th January – 26th February, 2017
Location: 328-D, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District, 100015 Beijing (de Sarthe Project Space)
de Sarthe Gallery is pleased to present its first show of 2017, a solo exhibition in the Beijing Project Space entitled ‘Restricted: Gaze’ by acclaimed film director Ju Anqi. The exhibition will open on January 7th at 4pm and will continue through February 26th, 2017.
The art of Ju Anqi is defined by and recognized for his avant-garde and provocative style within Chinese conceptual art. Ju’s artwork takes various forms such as experimental videos, narrative movies, paintings and LED installations. The exhibition features the artist’s latest video installation. Exemplified by the nature of the exhibition’s title, ‘Restricted: Gaze’ seeks to explore the artist’s ongoing desire toward reasoning as well as the power of logical observation.
“The blatant scrutiny of the female body presented in ‘Restricted: Gaze’ turns an erotic scene into an eerie experience. This type of gaze is similar to the gaze of someone whose genuine soul has long departed from their body, leaving behind an empty shell. The voyeur is simply an observer but his posture contributes to the intensity of the scene, which can be perceived as evil delight or as an assault, although nothing actually changes in the scene, it is simply an attitude that strikes viewers.
The works of Ju Anqi confront us with the absurd–a person arbitrarily staring at another in a confined space – it is a suggestion or a foreshadowing. Up to this date, his artworks are essentially videos, which can be seen as an extension of the many films he already produced. From the structure to the rhythm of his films, he is unceasingly simplifying connections and pushing forward the sophistication of his compositions thanks to his rich personal life and years of experience.”
– Li Zhen Hua
* Ju Anqi would like to thank the artist Dai Chenlian and the actress for their performances in the video.
