Exhibition shows time past to present
He has made a point of exploring how visual elements from Eastern culture can be expressed in the context of contemporary digital art exhibitions, thereby creating multidimensional, hybrid social experiential scenes.
"Specifically, I employed cross-media methods, integrating a comprehensive range of elements such as programming, design, installations, food, and theatrical performances," he says.
"The goal was to explore the possibilities of experimental artistic expression within social settings," he explains.
In 2017, He introduced Chinese elements into the Asia Contemporary Art Week that he hosted.
He wanted visitors to see how cutlery can be a communication tool to convey the depth of Chinese culture.
In 2018, He was invited to help with the gala of UCCA, China's leading institution of contemporary art, and delivered Another Village, an immersive performance that attempted to create a garden facing the future and a delightful farming experience.
He was inspired by an ancient Chinese tale and turned the setting into a utopian village.
"I also put in Kunqu Opera elements and ended up getting a very good effect," He recalls.
The experience marked a new chapter in his career as he started to zoom in on expressing traditional Chinese culture through new approaches.
In 2019, He returned to China and founded his art studio Chewing Theory, where he has focused on studying the 24 solar terms and their artistic conversion.
Ever since, his team has drawn inspiration from them and has come up with paintings and creative films to tell the Chinese story.
The first collection of those works went online during the Dragon Boat Festival on June 22 and received great attention, including from the Xicheng authorities.
"We will go beyond Xicheng, to the rest of Beijing and then the rest of the country, where folk customs and characteristics of the solar terms would be diverse," He says about his future plan.
"I hope I can help spread some Chinese culture from my perspective, and help make it more appealing and better understood by more," he says.
Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn
