Something from Nothing

22 Apr - 4 Jun 2016 Cang Xin

Something from Nothing

Featured artist Cang Xin

Cang Xin was born in 1967 in Inner Mongolia, China and is of Man nationality. He studied music, art and philosophy in Tianjin Academy of Music, Nankai University and Tianjing Academy of Fine Arts between 1986 and 1989. He has been painting since 1991 and began working as a professional artist in the East Village in Beijing in 1993.

Cang Xin gained his reputation initially from his performance art. His early work was concerned with the constraints and anxieties of real life, from this period includes To add one metre to an anonymous mountain and Communication. In 2002, he explored animist beliefs about the relationship between humans and nature includes the Exotic Flowers and Herbs series. In recent years, Cang Xin’s art and philosophical language has been strongly influenced by his interest in the origin of life and the universe. To quote Cang Xin – “Art, philosophy and religion are three basic components for human spiritual life and the meaning of our existence.”

Something from Nothing is an exhibition of Cang Xin’s small size artworks from the last three years. These paintings are his explorations of how to represent the history of human belief systems. He does this by adding his own perceptions and narratives to some iconic images from Western religious art. His sculptures are made of crystal resin and aluminum, representing “spirit particles” and Shamanism respectively. The 3D video work conveys his understanding of the ancient Shamanist traditions.

Shamanism believes there is a blurred distinction and interchangeability between inanimate objects and living things. Hence the title of this exhibition – Something from Nothing.

Cang Xin, I Saw External Existence, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 90x60cm

Cang Xin, I Saw External Existence, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 90x60cm

Cang Xin, Awareness after long and hard thinking, 2014, oil on canvas, 50x60cm

Cang Xin, Awareness after long and hard thinking, 2014, oil on canvas, 50x60cm

Cang Xin, It often slowly comes when I am writing, 2013, oil on canvas, 50x60cm

Cang Xin, It often slowly comes when I am writing, 2013, oil on canvas, 50x60cm

Cang Xin, How prayer was crystallised in an instant, 2014, oil on canvas, 90x60cm

Cang Xin, How prayer was crystallised in an instant, 2014, oil on canvas, 90x60cm

Cang Xin, To return from the dead is to conduct a spiritual exercise, 2014, oil on canvas, 90x60cm

Cang Xin, To return from the dead is to conduct a spiritual exercise, 2014, oil on canvas, 90x60cm

Cang Xin, Spiritual crystals, 2015, oil on canvas, 100x80cm

Cang Xin, Spiritual crystals, 2015, oil on canvas, 100x80cm

Cang Xin, Crystalisation 1, 2010, aluminium, 35x35x80cm

Cang Xin, Crystallisation 1, 2010, aluminium, 35x35x80cm

Cang Xin, Crystalisation 2, 2009, aluminium, 25x55x24cm

Cang Xin, Crystallisation 2, 2009, aluminium, 25x55x24cm

Cang Xin, Spiritual crystal 4, 2015, crystal resin, 35x35x35cm

Cang Xin, Spiritual crystal 4, 2015, crystal resin, 35x35x35cm

Vermilion Art

STAY UP TO DATE
Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.