The word ”launching“ itself contains the metaphor of establishing a stronghold in unknown territories. In the current art ecosystem, it points to the urgency of young artists striving for the right to speak amid the waves of capitalization and traffic orientation. This exhibition, titled “Launching”, symbolizes both the beginning of an endeavor and a launch into the unknown field. Much like a Beachhead launch, while artists aim to seize their chances on the eve of graduation exhibition. ”Launching“ precisely provides an ”undefined enclave“ through experimental projects - on May 20th, a day instilled with romantic significance in the digital age (as '520' sounds similar to 'I love you' in Mandarin), a group of artists graduated from Hangzhou will land in the greater bay area with their artworks.
Initiated by Professor and artist Li Qing, the group exhibition will showcase works from 12 artists of the Fourth Studio from the Oil Painting Department at China Academy of Art, several of whom are making their debut in commercial gallery exhibitions.
For both artists and viewers, the debut moment offers a dual-perspective aesthetic experience—Similar to the challenge faced by actors in connecting their expressiveness with the audience’s expectations in their performances. In this context, however, the focus shifts to the paintings of emerging artists, with the audience comprising seasoned professionals and figures from the art market. Intuition and immediate reaction come first, when viewers first encounter a work, they catch a glimpse of the artist’s personal interpretation of lived experience. This quick, passing moment, sparked by the artwork's visual impact, may later evolve through reflection, examination, or critique, ultimately leading to a state of thoughtful contemplation.
As the initiator, Li Qing emphasizes, the study and practice of painting ontology must start from the individual perspective, considering the visual context shaped by contemporary human existence, and then extract it into a personal artistic language. Whether through collage, realistic reconstruction, atmospheric composition, or abstract expression, artists need to develop and refine their own experimental painting approaches, blending them with academic theory to establish a unique narrative framework. Furthermore, Li Qing encourages emerging artists to venture into unfamiliar fields, such as exploring the cultural landscapes and art scenes of unfamiliar cities, in order to expand their vision and gain experience through practice.
Li Qing teases himself as the “broadcast station” in this exhibition, taking on the role of the front-line sentinel of the landing operation. As a mentor, he shares his own appreciations, the latest trend news, and offers a window for external communication and vision. As a senior peer, he shares his creative experiences with the younger generation, encouraging them to persevere in their artistic journeys.
While Clifford Geertz’s assertion that “Culture is public because meaning is.” holds validity, the experiences shaped by the intricate inner worlds of individuals, as well as the external information they absorb, may hold even greater significance. In this light, we must also embrace the bold, raw, and energetic artists who are attempting to break into the seemingly commercialized cultural boundaries. The path these artists follow may inevitable, but it ultimately leads them to a shared goal. However, their efforts to secure a claim in this complex and evolving market, may be the intense moment that truly showcases the “multitude” of diverse perspectives.
The exhibition will continue to June 5th, 2025.
About W.ONESPACE
W.ONESPACE is an art gallery founded in Shenzhen by three Generation Y art practitioners. It was established in 2020 during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. New perspectives on art and life have emerged in this post-pandemic era. W.ONESPACE aims to melt the boundaries between present, future and the past by mixing contemporary and ancient art under the logic of aesthetic research, thus bringing together arts of different countries, different periods and different forms to interact and express in unity as ONE.
