Press Release

bazaar compatible program #59
The Remaining Room

Wu Jifeng’s “pseudo-classic series” and Tao Damin’s “remainder” painting project, is the practice of painting two people has been engaged in their respective fields. They attempt to adopt a “remaining studio” working pattern, painting on the spot, to depict the daily scene of an imaginary “remaining studio “. These two artists are going to extend their own creation directions in the collaborative project so that a new dialogue will arise.

The “remaing room” was once an ordinary staff’s apartment typical of Shanghai taste. His furniture and supplies have been moved out and only remained the ornaments on the wall including some wall paintings, the wall lamp, hooks, on-off switches, a socket, wires and the like. These objects and traces give some clues to the hobbies and habits of the room owner.

Tao Damin and Wu Jifeng used painting techniques similar to the manuscript, painting the remaining details of the room. The showing of a fireplace, classical style decoration painting, European-style wall lamp and the posters reflect the public aesthetic pursuit of the western life of the owner. These aesthetics are obviously bourgeois, and they are the leftovers of the colonialist cultures in the 20th century, as the whole city and all individuals are indulged in the past and confused under the present circumstances. Meanwhile, the exhibiting artworks and the contrasting surrounding market will exacerbate this kind of uncertainty to some extent.

Wu Jifeng & Tao Damin
Shanghai, November 13, 2013