GUAN WEI

The exhibition is comprised of three new series of paintings and five new sculptures. In the extraordinary series of eleven Twinkling Galaxies paintings, Guan Wei explores the cosmos – star maps, astrological signs and mythical animals and figures swim in deep, velvety space. Meanwhile, in Water World, Isles and the series of sculptures titled Ocean, Guan Wei explores the ever stronger sense of connection he feels to ‘the island’ – an affinity first sparked whilst living in Australia and which has intensified since his return to live part of each year in Beijing.

‘Years of living and working in Australia have left me with an indelible sense of the island. From an island, one scans the night horizon and sees only water; above, one gazes at nothing but stars. Islands, water, and stars again emerge as major themes in this exhibition, but are experienced via new senses and perceptions that are derived from the stark contrast of survival in Beijing and Australia. It is on that basis that I have sought to create within these works a calm quietude — an elegant and intricate aesthetic — while infusing a psychological depth to the shallow, consumerist images that are nearly ubiquitous in our lives today. The exploration and refinement of this aesthetic has been the goal of my efforts over the past several years.’
Guan Wei, March 2013