Pearl Lam Galleries is pleased to announce its second participation in the fifth edition of Art Busan, one of Asia’s fastest growing art fairs. The fair attracts top-tier and up-and-coming contemporary art galleries and collectors from around the world; it has increased in scale by 50% each year since its inception. 190 galleries from 19 countries are taking part in this year’s fair, located in the renowned waterfront city of Busan.
At Art Busan, the Galleries will continue its mission of promoting cross-cultural dialogue within Asia, as well as between the East and West by exhibiting contemporary artists from different cultural backgrounds. The Galleries will exhibit works by Chinese artists Ren Ri, Su Xiaobai, Yang Yongliang, Zhou Yang Ming, and Zhu Jinshi; as well as works by Indonesian artist Gatot Pujiarto, and Italian artist Pino Pinelli.
Many of the exhibiting Chinese artists are known for being pioneers of Chinese abstract art, having led the movement to break free of realist painterly ideals prominent in 1980s China. These artists root their work in Taoist philosophy, which advocates the interconnectedness of humanity and nature, along with the cultivation of the inner self.
Renowned Chinese artist Zhu Jinshi (b. 1954), whose works synthesise Chinese sensibilities with an international visual language, leads the line-up at Pearl Lam Galleries’ stand with two oil on canvas works. Having lived in Germany for over two decades, Zhu is one of the pioneers of Chinese abstract art. He began to create abstract paintings in the late 1970s and moved to Berlin in 1986, where he began to experiment with performance, installation, and conceptual art as well. Using traditional Chinese aesthetics, Zhu’s canvases incorporate a series of “mind images” that emphasise the harmony between mankind and the natural world.
The Galleries will also present three mystical works by Su Xiaobai (b. 1949), one of China’s most distinctive painters whose works straddle sculpture and painting. Ranging from shell-like finishes to sensuous, curved profiles and abraded textures, they exist entirely on their own terms, exuding their own history, character, and independent presence.
Beijing-based artist Zhou Yang Ming (b. 1971) will show two line-based acrylic on canvas works, which investigate spatiality within the limitations of a canvas. Zhou’s works are all based on line and space, which ultimately reflect his thoughts and ideas at that specific moment. By drawing and painting line upon line, he creates a colourful surface which shows great training of both the hand and mind.
Malang-based Indonesian artist Gatot Pujiarto (b. 1970) will present two large mixed-media collage works that consist of canvas, cloth, paper, and acrylic. Pujiarto’s works explore abnormalities in everyday life, amusing and provoking audiences to reinterpret everyday stories into new realities. The visual sensation in his works is combined with unique textures created by pasting, patching, layering, tearing, binding, and by making fabric patterns.
Shanghainese artist Yang Yongliang (b. 1980), whose works will be shown in Busan for the first time, will exhibit a video work in his typical grayscale. Yang, who was trained in traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy, is well known for his intricate digital collages of urban and natural photography of China’s rapidly changing landscape. He uses digital editing techniques to create fantasy landscapes that evoke traditional Chinese ink works. Yang’s new mixed-media painting will also be exhibited as the artist still values painting as part of his practice, although he is primarily known for his digital media works.
Four intriguing works by Italian artist Pino Pinelli (b. 1938) will be introduced in Busan for the first time. Pinelli explores the essence of painting itself through an innovative use of materials and formal experiments, creating mixed-media geometric forms that mimic either outlines or geometric trails. Pinelli is one of the leading artists of Analytical Painting, defined by art critic Filiberto Menna and characterised by the artists’ interest in the material components of the painting and the relationship between the painting and the artist.
In March 2015, Pearl Lam Galleries opened a second Hong Kong gallery space dedicated to emerging artists with an inaugural solo exhibition by Beijing-based artist Ren Ri (b. 1984). At Art Busan, a special section of the stand will be dedicated to presenting a series of the unique beeswax sculptures that define Ren’s artistic career and skill as a beekeeper. Ren manipulates the movement of bees and the formation of honeycombs to create metaphysical and hybrid sculptures, which investigate the force of nature and consequences of human intervention.
About Pearl Lam Galleries
Founded by Pearl Lam, Pearl Lam Galleries is a driving force within Asia's contemporary art scene. With over 20 years of experience exhibiting Asian and Western art and design, it is one of the leading and most established contemporary art galleries to be launched out of China.
Playing a vital role in stimulating international dialogue on Chinese and Asian contemporary art, the Galleries is dedicated to championing artists who re-evaluate and challenge perceptions of cultural practice from the region. The Galleries in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore collaborate with renowned curators, each presenting distinct programming from major solo exhibitions, special projects, and installations to conceptually rigorous group shows. Based on the philosophy of Chinese Literati where art forms have no hierarchy, Pearl Lam Galleries is dedicated to breaking down boundaries between different disciplines, with a unique gallery model committed to encouraging cross-cultural exchange.
The four branches of Pearl Lam Galleries in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore represent an increasingly influential roster of contemporary artists. Chinese artists Zhu Jinshi and Su Xiaobai, who synthesise Chinese sensibilities with an international visual language, are presented internationally with work now included in major private and public collections worldwide. The Galleries has also introduced leading international artists, such as Jenny Holzer, Leonardo Drew, Carlos Rolón/Dzine and Yinka Shonibare MBE, to markets in the region, providing opportunities for new audiences in Asia to encounter their work. Pearl Lam Galleries encourages international artists to create new work which engages specifically with the region, collaborating to produce thought-provoking, culturally relevant work.
Pearl Lam Galleries represents these artists: