News
Duan Zhengqu’s solo exhibition at Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
I’m Trying to Paint Myself
Curator: Hu Bin
2024.3.2-5.5
Art Museum of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts
Duan Zhengqu, who studied at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts at the beginning of the reform and opening up, returned to his home province of Henan after graduation, and established a unique image in the art world with his thick and unsophisticated shape and a style that is rich in visual tension, like that grown in the soil of the north. Since then, Duan Zhengqu has deepened and expanded in different directions on the theme of “North”, and this expansion is connected with his physical trace and understanding. In recent years, he is trying to break through the existing subject and language range, and has made many attempts in a kind of progressive extension.
When reflecting the urban life becomes a certain trend of contemporary art, his rough and strong loess flavor is highlighted in a reversed way; In the context of clearing up symbolized and schematized contemporary art situation, his behavior that was not once regarded as “frontier” has been highlighted again. However, he once again tried to separate from it, to dissolve the strong rural connotation, and the tone became relaxed and peaceful. Duan Zhengqu constantly pondering, insisting, changing, pursuing the strange vitality. As the saying goes: “I’m trying to paint myself”, such an artistic approach can undoubtedly give some inspiration to our current painting discussion.
–Hu Bin