The Artificial Landscape
The Paris Horizon Gallery is pleased to present the exhibition dedicated to the Chinese artist LU Hang, entitled "The artificial landscape".
In the creation of artist Lu Hang, famous historical scenes have always been present. The human or animal presence in these scenes clearly reveals the artist's intention, that of evoking our collective memories. The figure, however frozen in a past moment, manages to transcend this past moment to become a memory deconstructed and reconstructed by the artist, then a vivid moment for the spectators. We detach ourselves from its authenticity, to penetrate a historical "field" and prove the existence of protagonists reinterpreted by the artist. These scenes that did exist leave their historical moment to expand into the present and acquire universal significance.
In contrast to these cold and harsh scenes and figures, the artist uses extremely vivid and colorful colors. It brings the protagonists back to life and revives our memories. It catches the eye of the viewer while pushing it back in a certain absurd and surrealistic effect.
In contrast to these cold and severe scenes and characters, the artist used extremely bright and colorful colors. It brings the protagonists back to life and revives our memories. It catches the eye of the viewer while pushing it away in a certain absurd and surreal effect.
We can only make out the two legs of the person standing near the red dog, the two seated figures remain in a luminous blur, as is the figure behind the microphone. The few details granted by the artist nevertheless revive our collective memory, they are painful historical moments that are offered to us to relive. The artist deliberately removes the details of the people in these familiar scenes, he blurs and flattens them, he makes them timeless, and at the same time, it can be anyone, anywhere.
Artist Lu Hang is one of the few Chinese artists born in the 1980s who directly captures elements of historical images to create. He grew up in Beijing. In middle school, he practiced drawing at Beijing Railway Station for four consecutive years, modeling ordinary people waiting for the train. Among them are businessmen, thieves, farmers, students, civil servants and soldiers. From an early age, he followed his journalist mother on assignments all over China. He graduated from the Fine Arts of Sichuan, then from the Fine Arts of Bourges. He currently lives and works between Paris, Chongqing and Beijing.
GAO FengFeng
Art critic, curator
Paris Skyline Gallery