Each Modern is pleased to present Density, São Paulo based artist Lin YiHsuan's fourth solo exhibition with the gallery. Density is also the extension of the artist's debut at Gallery Weekend Beijing in May. Lin' first monograph collects works from 2015 with a conversation with artist Chen ChingYuan will be released on 29 July. Simultaneously Lin's solo exhibition The Sun's Pencil at Nan Jo Art Museum, Okinawa, and group show Here is where we meet at Chiayi Art Museum are on view.

The evolution of human perception has transformed from a perspective dominated by external, spatiotemporal limitations to an inner perspective influenced by values, profoundly affecting the formation of art styles and preferences. Yet, there have always been artists and enthusiasts daring to break through these constraints. A century ago, a cadre of artists embracing this philosophy embarked on a journey to Paris, France, sparking a revolutionary chapter in contemporary Chinese art. As we stand a hundred years later, we pose the question: can artists forge innovative art forms by merging the influences and lessons drawn from diverse geographical and cultural contexts.

The distinctive cultural landscape of Latin America has deeply nourished Lin YiHsuan during his fourteenyear sojourn, providing a lens distinct from the conventions of Western art. As contemporary art broadens its scope to embrace diverse and hybrid perspectives, reinterpreting history, Lin exemplifies the potential evolution of Eastern abstract painting. The realm of abstract painting is a complex, cryptic medium, fragmented yet continuous, leisurely, yet precise. It conjures a tapestry of words, phrases, songs, and images, crafting nuanced symbolism, metaphorical connotations, and multiplicities. Historically, the evolution of avant-garde abstract painting has woven a global web of interconnected influences, from Wu Dayu's 'Shi Xiang,' Li Chun-Shan's explorations of the subconscious, to Li Yuan-chia's lines and Cosmic Point. These developments have occurred in parallel with avant-garde movements in Tokyo, Paris, and Italy. Within this global dialogue, Brazil, the most prosperous hub for abstract expression in Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere, has offered fresh insights by focusing on the non-objective abstract theoretical concept of 'Forma.' In Lin's paintings, the vibrancy and contrast of colors and forms, informed by his immersion in Latin American life, have become dominant themes over the past five years.

Art History

In Lin's most recent works, a visit to view Miró's art in 2021 ignited an exploration into the compact geometries inherent in Abstract Expressionism and Cubism, two movements that dominated the art world for half a century. Lin discerned these elements within the textural surfaces, organic rhythms, and imagery in Miró's oeuvre. Miró himself claimed that his paintings were not abstract, often titling his works 'Peinture' to underscore his commitment to 'pure painting,' which he viewed as a reality in itself. This echoes Lin's own longstanding inclination to identify as a painter first and foremost, constantly referring to his creations as 'pictures.' From the abstract tradition, Lin harbors a keen interest in reinvigorating the primal and organic components found in prehistoric art. He contends that as painting tools have advanced in the modern era, they can still resonate with the essence of paintings created by prehistoric humans to satisfy basic fundamental needs. He posits that these paintings can transcend mere formal abstraction to be deeply imbued with intrinsic vitality.

Lines

Fluid, loose, and interwoven, Lin's seemingly spontaneous methods are the result of meticulous planning and arrangement. Each composition, each individual line, is initially sketched on blank paper before it is rendered on the canvas. This enables Lin to curate a canvas space that appears impulsive and undefined, yet is laden with intricate layers of meaning. These lines echo the shapes Lin observes in nature and everyday life and reflect his extensive studies of Matisse, Picasso, Basquiat, and Bada Shanren. It is through this methodical preparation that Lin is able to express himself more freely, as if he has gained the ability to control under the influence of dreams, fusing reality and mystery within a liberated space.

Literature

Fusing ethereal imagery with enduring painterly elements, Lin YiHsuan's life, much like that of other abstract masters, is deeply intertwined with a passion for literature. His move to Latin America was fueled by his fascination with travel, the fantastical qualities of Latin American Magical Realism, and the raw, unfiltered perspectives of Beat Generation literature. From the onset, Lin was destined to blend various elements: literature, color, form, words, images, and meanings, all nurtured by diverse cultures, vie and intermingle, forging a new language of expression. His life requires a space as boundless as the ocean, as radiant as sunlight, as verdant as cadmium-green leaves. The experiences and uncertainties encountered in Latin American society starkly contrast the enigma of art, yet Lin incorporates these seeming contradictions of 'dream' and 'reality' into his paintings. The reason the purity in his works can be perceived and understood is because it is so fleeting, without any metaphysical intent. No theoretical exploration can define Lin YiHsuan within a specific academic framework: only such openness and reconsideration can explain Lin YiHsuan's innovative abstract painting.

Press release courtesy Each Modern.