Eastern charm
Portraiture of historic figures has become a central focus for the sculptor Li Xiangqun. He spent three years working on Four Masters of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), a group of four figurines of the dynasty's prominent artists — Huang Gongwang, Wu Zhen, Ni Zan and Wang Meng. Using fiberglass, lacquer mixed with pigments, and minimized facial details, the sculptures convey a modernist, minimalist aesthetic.
They are now on view in Oriental New Charm, Art Collections by Tsinghua Professors, at Zero Art Center in Beijing until Sept 21. The exhibition features works of six professors, including Li, of the Academy of Arts and Design of Tsinghua University. It features three artists of repute, Du Dakai, Liu Jude and Chen Hui, who push the boundaries of ink art, often incorporating techniques from other media. And it shows Dong Shubing and Ma Wenjia whose sculptures accentuate an Eastern poetic sensibility.
10 am-6 pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Zhongyi Jie Street, 798 Art Zone, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-5978-9931.
