RECONNECT
12 May — 27 July 2024
An exhibition by Peiyuan Jiang and curated antiques
Disconnect
/ˌdɪskəˈnɛkt/
verb: break the connection of, or between.
The verbs disconnect, connect and reconnect all describe processes of happening in between states. Each of the words could be a potential end point of the others, as well as the process in between. If life is a cycle, and the planet Earth is a globe, any disconnection will always reconnect.
The ambiguity and intricacy of the concept of disconnect versus reconnect transcends through the materiality process in Jiang Peiyuan’s artwork. Transparent Paint Skin Series (2019 - present) finessing the translucency quality of the pre-made painted layers during its unsettled liquid stage in the process. The thin layers of wet acrylic paint are sensitively moved by the artist to construct gestures of compositions. The process was technical and precise, yet spontaneous, in which the artist followed the fragile nature of the pigment — an expression of controlling the uncontrolled.
In this exhibition, a Song Dynasty (12th Century) white ceramic pot repaired with rivets and kintsugi is set at the entrance of the gallery as an introduction to Jiang’s paintings. The details of the kintsugi and metal rivets on the antique pot quietly tell an ancient tale of reconnection.
Jiang’s technical yet spontaneous painting process is both a noun, describing the pigment surfaces, and a verb, processing the reconstruction of materials.
The artist followed the fragile nature of the pigment — an expression of controlling the uncontrolled.
"Painting" as both a noun describing pigment surfaces and a verb representing the process of painting.
A Song Dynasty (12th Century) white ceramic pot repaired with rivets and kintsugi is set at the entrance of the gallery as an introduction to Jiang’s paintings. The details of the kintsugi and metal rivets on the antique pot quietly tell an ancient tale of reconnection.
Photos by Ash James
About the Artist
PEIYUAN JIANG 姜培源 (b.1983, China)
Peiyuan Jiang is a painter based in China. Jiang’s recent works explore painting using acrylic pigments and acrylic mediums as materials and themes. His practice emphasizes the materiality of painting materials as well as the process, methods, and attitudes of image production. The TPS (Transparent Paint Skin) series deconstructs the relationship structure between pigment layers and supports by collaging pre-made transparent paint skins on canvas, thus destabilizing and reconstructing "painting" as both a noun describing pigment surfaces and a verb representing the process of painting. This process brings about a completely new visual experience and expands the conceptual scope of painting.
