Song – Perception by Cai Xiaosong (Part 1)

Song of Mountain Streams (triptych), 2016, ink on paper
Left: 144.5 x 118.5 cm; Center: 144.5 x 50.5 cm; Right : 144.5 x 116.5 cm

Cai Xiaosong

'What you see in my painting is the essence or meaning of natural phenomena, and not the actual physical form of mountains, stones, and clouds. These forms are concrete, and what I paint is metaphysical.' Cai Xiaosong.

Cali Xiaosong's new ink landscape painting series entitled Song – Perception which marks a decisive transition in his art. In the new series, Cai shifts his artistic focus from representational expression to a visual interpretation of the world on a metaphysical level. Meticulously executed subject matters such as scholars’ rocks, planets, and Buddhist sculptures frequently seen in his previous works now give way to semi-abstract landscapes that are full of movement and rhythm and which capture the essence of nature rather than its physical forms.

A passionate traveller, Cai Xiaosong has journeyed through Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to understand the origins of and to experience Western culture first hand. Struck by contrasts between cultures and religions, Cai approaches his paintings with a sense of purpose and seeks a harmonious solution to balance the opposition. He is drawn to analysing the conflict between humanity and nature, man and the universe, classical and contemporary, past and present, tradition and innovation. Cai’s aesthetic approach to conflict has garnered international attention with the debut of Planet, an illuminated painting installation featured at the Future Pass exhibition during the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011.

ABOUT CAI XIAOSONG 

Cloud Gate (diptych), 2016, ink on paper
Top: 62.5 x 253 cm; Bottom: 82.5 x 253 cm

 

Cloud Genesis, 2016, ink on paper, 69 x 139 cm 

Cai Xiaosong was born in Shanghai in 1964, and graduated from the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. Trained in traditional Chinese ink painting, he experimented with Western media and art forms before returning to an exclusive use of ink, brush, silk, and paper. Cai moved to Beijing in 2009 and currently lives and works in both Beijing and Los Angeles. 

Cai’s works have been widely exhibited by institutions including the National Museum of Fine Arts (Havana, Cuba), National Taiwan Museum Of Fine Arts, Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Beijing Today Art Museum, IVAM - Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (Spain), Plum Blossoms (Hong Kong) and more.

Click here to read Song - Perception by Cai Xiaosong (Part 2)

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Photography: Courtesy of Sotheby's Hong Kong.