NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2019

THE KIND STRANGER

UNArt Center, Shanghai, CH
23/08/2019 - 20/10/2019

UNArt Center present its opening show "The Kind Stranger ". The Center is located in the former site of Dongchang Cinema, the first of its kind in Pudong. It is striving to become an international communication platform for technology, art and education. 44 works from 39 artists are exhibited in the show, covering different forms such as painting, installation, photography, video, performance, etc. Most of them are from or based in Shanghai, and all the works are made between 2008 and 2018. Titled as "The Kind Stranger”, the show aims to reflect and to some degree respond to the new conditions and scenarios of contemporary human society driven by the accelerating technological revolution. The entire exhibition is based on a fictional scenario: “The Kind Stranger”, as the protagonist of the story, is a character who lives “post-singularity”. The exhibition is reminiscent of an investigative scene in which the “private collections” of this “kind stranger”, whether in physical or digital forms, are uncovered. The site remains ambiguous in its temporal or spatial anchor, whilst inviting the audiences to locate, even orient the items, the text, the sound and vibe, even him/herself, as part of the story to enjoy a psychological retreat from the year 2019, and the city Shanghai Humanistic concepts had played their roles alongside, or intertwined with the evolving progress of our technical environment. The so-called “humanistic” and “technological” were not to be considered separately, instead, as parties that co-exist and balance each other within a larger dynamic historical flow. Yet, we seem to have entered a historical episode in which discussions of technological acceleration and singularity are engendering new peripheries and balances of the two parties. Hence, the humanism coordinates need to be interrogated for us to still orient: can it go towards the same direction as before, or a radical transformation is on the horizon? Some futurologists have put that the human society is reaching the very “end stage” of its existence. Be it a prophet or warning, we might need to reconsider, how we - both on the individual and collective level - can be prepared for the upcoming “new era”: the apocalyptical, the trans-human, or the age of Gaia in Latour’s terms. Would the “new era” be truly “new”? The exhibition does not attempt to provide any solid answer for these interrogations, but as a cultural event, it may still tap on the situation that we’re all immersed in: a time of significant transitions, something we all have to go through. The exhibition touches on the discussion of “new cognitive capabilities”, as a positive response to this transitional time.

Nick Ervinck made the installation SUMNIM for this show. The artist divided this futuristic 3D printed sculpture into 8 parts for printing, coloring, polishing, and finally installing on site. The printed sculpture connects and integrates with the real space. This work brings the question of the opposition between traditional architecture and virtual design to a new level. It breaks the established way of vertical display, and realizes an interesting dialogue between the structure and the surroundings. Nick's goal is to bring sculptures and buildings together and explore unknown areas by constantly challenging the limits of the reality.

With works by aaajiao, Bi Rongrong, Cédric Van Parys, Chen Zhou, Ding Li, Feng Bingyi, Fu Fengyuan & Lin Qin, Fito Segrera, Geng Jianyi, Guo Cheng, Flower, Hefin Jones, Hu Jieming, Ji Wenyu & Zhu Weibing, Jin Shan, Li Shan, Lin Ke, Liu Ren, Liu Yi, Louisa Galiardi, Marc Lee, Maya Kramer, Nick Ervinck, onformative, Pixy Liao, Rena Giesecke, RMBit, Shi Yong, Shi Zhiying, Su Chang, Vivian XU, Wu Yiming, Xiao Jiang, Yin Yi, Xu Zhe, Yutaka Makino, Zhang Ding, Zhang Haimeng & Karis Chang & Henry Yin & Feng Kai & Lu Yunbo, Zhang Liaoyuan

Curated by Art Yan

LOCATION: UNArt Center, Shanghai, CH

SUMNIM, 2013 - 2019
Installation with 3D printing, Fiberglass, Interior decoration (Plaster ornaments, Wood floor, Light film ceiling)
240 x 392 x 535 cm
94.5 x 154.3 x 210.6 inches

 

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REDNOYER

VUB, Brussel, BE
2019

The sculpture REDNOYER looks like a living, dynamic substance, which keeps on growing and transforming. This outside sculpture is designed fully digital, yet, it is manufactured by hand, using polyester. The structure seems to be the result of a spontaneous, natural erosion process (think of how water hollows out rocks).
At the same time, the bright colours and the shiny surface seem to contradict the organic, and give the sculpture the allure of an artefact. With REDNOYER, references to Henry Moore and the modernist sculptors are evident.

The inspiration for REDNOYER was found during a walk in the Yuyuan garden, at the shores of the Huangpu river in Shanghai, where Ervinck was attracted by the perforated, changeable structure of the rocks. The blue sculpture resembles a strange endoskeleton, an abstract structure, which is generated by the organic, fluid texture.

LOCATION: VUB, Brussel, BE

 

REDNOYER, 2018 - 2019
polyurethane and polyester
350 x 225 x 120 cm

 

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WORKING ON TWO NEW PUBLICATIONS

In collaboration with curator Patrick Ronse, Be-Part, the Henry Moore Foundation and the City of Waregem, I am working on a very special project that we will be exhibiting in the Autumn in the Library in Waregem and will travel on later.
I create a cabinet that forms the basis for the collection of art books and monographs by Henry Moore which I collected. This collection of books now consists of 280 copies and is undoubtedly unique in Belgium (and perhaps far beyond). In addition to the books, this cabinet contains a number of works by Henry Moore (sculptures, a few lithographs), works by Nick Ervinck and objects that (have been) inspiring for both artists.
This cabinet will be presented in the Waregem library during the period from 10 October to 10 December 2019.
On December 7 a lecture on Henry Moore will take place at 5 p.m. by Sebastiano Barassi, Head of Collections and Exhibitions of the Henry Moore Foundation in Hertfordshire (UK). On this occasion, I will also present a new publication.
Entrance is free. You can register via bepartexhibitions.be

In collaboration with the National Museum of Finland I am planning a large solo show in Häme Castle, a 12th century castle near Helsinki.
My works enter into a dialogue with some old pieces from the museum's collection. In addition to existing works, new works will be shown in premiere. The show in Finland will be on view during the period from 17 April to 19 November 2020.

A great period that I like to crown with two new publications, published by Hannibal. The first book will be published in December 2019.
The second book will be published in April 2020.

Both books will be launched with a special, limited edition. For example, the book GNI-RI 2019 can be obtained in an exclusive box with a work by Moore and a work by Ervinck. Or only with a work by Ervinck. The book GNI-RI 2020 can be purchased with a special sculptural cover, or with a limited edition sculpture.

For more information or to pre-order the books click here

 

 

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Current and upcoming projects