On January 10, 2015, A Thousand Plateaus Art Space will open the first exhibition of the new year with Blue Forest—Xiong Yu Recent Works and a solo project by emerging Sichuan artist Zou Sijin. As an up-rising artist who has just begun her career, she is keenly sensitive to the surroundings, and gives prominence to the abundant and sensible inner world through portraying the real-world scenes. A Thousand Plateaus Art Space has been looking for young explorative cases in contemporary paintings; in this exhibition from Zou Sijin’s paintings, viewers will feel the charm of the constantly developing contemporary painting.
Zou Sijin was born in Chongqing in 1986. As a young artist, her work possesses a unique attitude and mature thinking. She boldly expresses her attempts onto the canvas. She’s like an observer full of true feelings while also maintaining a feeling of detachment. Therefore, the title World without End is full of adventurous spirit, it’s from her gaze deep in the world, and opens a visual door which connects both the real world and the hidden recesses of the soul.
Among her presented works, she has a deep understanding to the figures in the images. Her depictions are lyrical but it is unclear whether they are affirmative or negative, sympathetic or supportive, or possess any clear attitude. It appears she enjoys observing life itself. This could come from a work by Milan Kundera, or to go a step further, it could come from the influence of existentialism. This influence is not from theory, but through the current reality of the world and Zou’s personal experiences. In fact, her works are herself, or on a higher level, they are the reappearance of the state of life to a new generation of artists. Therefore, even though foreign scenes often appear in Zou’s works, they originate in the current state of China.
Zou Sijin’s works find deep perception of reality from the seemingly uneventful plots, it makes her creation seem lack of stories at first sight, but uncover the flood hidden in the simple life. Zou Sijin’s compositions are calm and peaceful, but also provoke when considered by traditional academic criteria. In the work “The Fragile Story of the Youth”, the white in the center of the canvas seems nonsensical. The objects there lack detail and perspective, even appearing to be carelessly added. In contrast, the silhouettes of the people are precisely articulated. The contrast of this view reveals the incompatibility of humans with their environment. This incompatibility actually comes from the inner sentiments of humanity, or, put another way, from the observations of the artist. These works are the beginning of Zou Sijin’s long artistic career. They are worth showing not only because they are sophisticated and sharp; the truth, honesty, and confidence that are displayed in these works will be a treasure that is more precious to the artist than any technique or concept.
Zou Sijin, “Body in Bed”, oil on canvas, 40×50cm, 2014
邹思妗，《床上的身体》，布面油画，40×50cm，2014
Zou Sijin, “Confrontation”, oil on canvas, 50×60cm, 2014
邹思妗，《对峙》，布面油画，50×60cm，2014
Zou Sijin, “Maiden’s Curiosity about death”, oil on canvas, 60×60cm, 2014
邹思妗，《少女，对死神的好奇》，布面油画，60×60cm，2014
Zou Sijin, “Manufacture”, oil on canvas, 150×230cm, 2014
邹思妗，《工厂制造》，布面油画，150×230cm，2014
Zou Sijin, “The Fragile Story of the Youth”, oil on canvas, 170×150cm, 2014
邹思妗，《青春易碎》，布面油画，170×150cm，2014
ZOU Sijin
1986 born in Yubei District of Chongqing
2009 graduate from Chongqing Jiaotong University
2013 studying at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
Exhibitions
2014 ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair, Shanghai, China
Definite and Indefinite Painting—Zou Sijin Individual Exhibition, Sichuan Fine Arts Institution, Chongqing, China
Everyday is Unconventionality—the 21st Art Exhibition of Oil Painting Department of Sichuan, Fine Arts Institution, Blueroof Museum, Chengdu, China
2013 The Fourth “Porsche Colorful” Art Exhibition, CMEA Museum, Chongqing, China
Zou Sijin Individual Exhibition, BG Coffee, Chongqing, China
