[press release]
The K11 Art Foundation (KAF) announces a solo exhibition of Cheng Ran featuring his latest work, an epic 9-hour film entitled “In Course of the Miraculous”. Opening in March 2016 to coincide with the Hong Kong edition of Art Basel, KAF will introduce local and international audiences to one of the foremost new media artists practicing in the Chinese contemporary landscape. Based on historical accounts, the film interweaves three chronicles spanning a century that form parallel narratives anchored in adventurous expeditions that ended in unsolvable mysteries, and explores notions of freedom, self determinism and the record of “history.” The exhibition of the same title will be on view at chi K11 art space, Hong Kong from 21 March–1 May, 2016.
Showcasing “In Course of the Miraculous” in Hong Kong fulfills KAF’s mandate to meaningfully incubate emerging Chinese artists and nurture audience development by introducing a diversified art programme across mediums. Adrian Cheng, Founder and Honorary Chairman of KAF also acted Chief Producer of the film, extending this longstanding collaborative mode of support extended to artist Cheng Ran. Premiering at the prestigious Istanbul Biennale in 2015 to critical acclaim, the film has garnered further international recognition of the emerging voice from China. An artist who has participated in major world touring exhibitions presented by KAF, his success corroborates the vision of the Foundation as a fulcrum of motivation for future programming.
程然，《奇迹寻踪》，剧照，2015（图片由艺术家、K11 Art Foundation, Erlenmeyer基金会，及麦勒画廊北京-卢森提供）/ Cheng Ran, “In Course of the Miraculous”, film still, 2015 (courtesy the artist, K11 Art Foundation, Erlenmeyer Foundation and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne)
“It has always been an aspiration to not only conceive of, but realize an epic moving image artwork. Shot across continents whilst considering length, scale and concept, was to me a performance in itself, as it is a movie in its final form,” said the artist. He continued, “During the shooting, I held more than eight exhibitions, in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou. The works included installation, performance, documentary and talks about the film. I hope to offer an open interpretation of the details. If the collage of images forms a river of thought, I wish for it also allow for tributaries of alternative imagination.”
“In Course of the Miraculous” is based on three real life stories that end mysteriously. From a crossing of the Atlantic, to an expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, to inexperienced sailors losing the majority of their crew before returning to Mainland China, a spirit of exploration, loss and melancholy unite diverse stories. The premise of this work is based on recorded events but as the film develops, the progression enters the dominion of fiction, creating imagined dialogues discussing larger themes of action, courage and bravery. The exhibition is a continuation of Cheng Ran’s investigation of the language of film, experimenting with the coded and symbolic connotations of moving image. The movie and video installation seek to explore the relationships between time, space and audience, whilst creating new aesthetic frameworks over 9-hour viewing experience.
程然，《奇迹寻踪》，剧照，2015（图片由艺术家、K11 Art Foundation, Erlenmeyer基金会，及麦勒画廊北京-卢森提供）/ Cheng Ran, “In Course of the Miraculous”, film still, 2015 (courtesy the artist, K11 Art Foundation, Erlenmeyer Foundation and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne)
程然，《奇迹寻踪》，剧照，2015（图片由艺术家、K11 Art Foundation, Erlenmeyer基金会，及麦勒画廊北京-卢森提供）/ Cheng Ran, “In Course of the Miraculous”, film still, 2015 (courtesy the artist, K11 Art Foundation, Erlenmeyer Foundation and Galerie Urs Meile, Beijing-Lucerne)
