Xianwei Zhu: Yun Shou - Wolkenhände I
The influence of traditional Chinese landscape painting and Daoist philosophy is clearly recognisable in Xianwei Zhu's work: the choice of motif, colouring and specific brushwork are just a few examples of this. Similar to Friedrich, Zhu's human figures appear like miniatures, emphasising the sublimity of the surrounding nature. In addition to other similarities in composition and subject matter, there are elements in Zhu's work that can be seen as a direct homage to Caspar David Friedrich. Xianwei Zhu's own artistic signature ensures topicality. His brush acts as an organic extension of his masterful hand: it creates a balance between density and lightness and materialises what the artist experiences inside - in the spirit of Friedrich. The exhibition title YUN SHOU (Chinese for cloud hands) comes from Tai Ji Quan. It is the name of one of 24 figures of the so-called Peking form. The cloud hands symbolise the basic mental attitude of Daoism: an immersion in a meaningful emptiness; the search for balance in a turbulent outside world and the striving for oneness with sublime nature. This attitude can be found in the works of both Friedrich and Zhu.
Text: Caroline Barth M. A. art historian, artist, curator and director of the Caspar-David-Friedrich-Zentrum from the foreword to the catalogue "Xianwei Zhu Wolken Hände", published on the occasion of the exhibition.
Further information about the artist and an impression of his artistic work can be found on the website: https://www.xianwei-zhu.com/ and on Instagram: @xianweizhu1971.
Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm
Admission: 8.00 euros regular; 5.00 euros reduced, children up to 12 years and members of the Caspar-David-Friedrich-Gesellschaft e. V. free.
- Artist talk on 1 March 2024, 4 to 6 pm
- CDFZ_kontemporär: impulse tour through the exhibition, every Wednesday, 2 pm
- Drawing workshop: ink, watercolour and sepia, from 27.01. - 30.03. every Saturday, 2 to 4 pm
CV
1971 | Born in Qingdao, China |
1989-1993 | Studied art education at Shandong University, China |
1993-1996 | Postgraduate studies in painting at the Hangzhou Art Academy, China |
1996–2000 | Lecturer at the University of Qingdao, China |
2001-2003 | Postgraduate studies in free painting at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart with Prof. Cordula Güdemann |
2008 | Studied free painting at the State Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart under Prof. Cordula Güdemann. Diploma Free Painting |
2009 | Lectureship at the Merzakademie Stuttgart |
2010-2012 | Visiting professor at the Beijing Film Academy, China |
2016-2020 | Visiting professor at the art academy Yun Nan/China |
2020-2021 | Lectureship at the Technical University of Dortmund |
Lives and works as a freelance artist in Düsseldorf and Stuttgart |
Awards and honours
2018 | Franz-Joseph-Spiegler-Prize, Mochental Castle near Ehingen on the Danube |
2014 | Main prize of the 28th Art Prize of the Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen |
Solo exhibitions: (selection)
2020 | „inner landscapes“ Gallery Kunstraum Essen; „Alles ist gut" , Gallery Vayhinger, Singen |
2019 | „Zu den Quellen", City Gallery; Wangen im Allgäu „Wolkenpfad“, Gallery Kreissparkasse Esslingen-Nürtingen |
2018 | „Rückkehr zu den Wurzeln“, Gallery Schrade, Mochental Castle; „Timeless", Kreuzkirche Nürtingen |
Group exhibitions: (selection)
2020 | „Künstlerpaare.“ Gallery Schlichtenmaier, Stuttgart; „Nah-fern“ Kulturbahnhof Starnberg, München |
2019 | HTWL. Der Twiel im Blick.“ Art Museum Singen, Singen; „Jubiläumsausstellung“, Gallery Schlichtenmaier, Dätzingen Castle, Grafenau |
2018 | „BERGE: was sonst.“ ORF-Landesfunkhaus Vorarlberg, Dornbirn, Österreich; „SINGENKUNST 2019 Stadt Berg Fluss“, Kunstverein Singen, Singen |
You can find a complete overview of all exhibitions here.