Galerie Urs Meile is pleased to collaborate with MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS in 2024 JINGART. MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS curates the ZT. Pages project, presenting the latest works of the young generation of artists from Hangzhou, including Bai Taotao, Chen Yihan, CATTIN TSAI, LazyBackHome, PAPAPEPIA, Zhang Ting, Zhu Jinkun, Zhu Xiangmin, and 3lla W4ng Ol55on.
History never stops, now all unfolded in the scroll. Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty once dreamt of a heavenly book, "Dazhong Xiangfu" brought by an eagle, deemed a fortunate object. Its name sparked a cultural frenzy at the time with decades of controversy over its authenticity. History is but smoke and mirrors, even when misread, often brings inspiration.
Hangzhou, once the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, fostered artistic peaks. Now, a millennium later, outside the city centre lies Zhuan Tang, the base camp of many artists' studios, still wild and free. As a vanguard group rooted in Hangzhou, MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS once curated exhibitions on Hangzhou artists titled Post Southern Song Dynasty in Beijing and Paris. Describing the artistic community here, nourishment persists, nurturing each other, expressing individually through sensuality, and hallucination, via vastly different mediums, and forming unique identities.
Among them, Zhu Xiangmin is inspired by the frenzy of Kerouac's writing, while Bai Taotao depicts cruel fairy tales using plush spiders as subjects. There's HAM's graffiti expressionism and Zhang Ting's paintings capturing memories. There are also those who turn the world into data through 3D printing and gaming platforms, translating images into subcultures by contemporary faces like CATTIN TSAI, Zhu Jinkun, LazyBackHome, and 3lla W4ng Ol55on. Also, PAPAPEPIA's creation path of immortalising installation using PVC.
With fictitious books as themes, and chains metaphorically threading clues, the exhibition focuses on the diverse creativity of Hangzhou's young artists, presenting an unreadable, splendid poetic sentiment, connecting past and present, forming several chapters, each with its own value. If the future could be written, it would be called "The Heavenly Scroll of Zhuan Tang".
ABOUT MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS
MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS is a mysterious creature born in the Post-Southern Song Dynasty. It is the fantastic illusion of gathering in the dark, a hidden place for cats. MARTIN GOYA is a black cat. The name is derived from the scene in the Hollywood movie "SPY" (2015) that an FBI agent fabricated a pseudonym for himself by combining a pet's name with a home address.
MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS was founded in 2017, as a pioneering platform that advocates for alternative youth culture. Setting itself apart from existing art systems, it is committed to promoting and supporting the diverse practice and exploration of emerging local artists. Martin Goya Business closely aligns with today's trends and avant-garde fashion, shaping and leading a new visual and cultural scene with its unique vibe.
MARTIN GOYA BUSINESS has become one of the most different Chinese local organisations/crew since established. MGB has curated over 80 events and exhibitions across the world including cities like Hangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Paris, Sydney and New York. Collaborated with over 400 creators including artists, curators, writers, designers musicians and actors. By working collectively with art museums, art agencies, music labels, and fashion media, MGB is growing slowly with Hangzhou as a starting point.
ABOUT GALERIE URS MEILE
Galerie Urs Meile, established 1992 in Lucerne, Switzerland, is dedicated to representing a diverse array of Chinese and European artists spanning various generations and artistic media, encompassing painting, sculpture, installation, photography and video. Since 1995, the gallery has also been dedicated to Chinese contemporary art. Over the past almost thirty years, it has consolidated its position as an important cultural bridge between East and West. Presently, with exhibition spaces located in Beijing, Zurich, Lucerne, and Ardez, Galerie Urs Meile curates between 14–16 exhibitions annually. The gallery's significance stems from a steadfast commitment to fostering contemporary art in China and Europe and facilitating meaningful exchanges among them. By cultivating connections that transcend generational and cultural boundaries, the gallery stimulates the growth of art communities, incorporating diverse perspectives and bringing them into the international spotlight.