SUN XUN

The title of the exhibition “An Infinite Journey” not only indicates the protagonist’s journey, but also metaphors the artist’s creation concept. Stems from Sun Xun’s generalization of his creation, his works as the imagery of the reality does not lie in a single medium, while different media can promote the enlightenment and collision of artistic expression at different levels. Except for the animation, the works of the exhibition are mainly woodcuts, which correspond to the first country that the protagonist “Xiaozhi” travels - Luocha: a nation with no history, no memory and deny flight. With its unique rigid and rough visual effects, the woodcut bears the feature of Luocha, and appropriately constructs the inner universe of the animation. The Luocha part is a clip with a strong narrative, which occupies nearly one-third of the origin animation. Audiences can appreciate the grand and sophisticated worldview behind the animation’s flowing narrative while enjoying the animation and the woodcut stills.

Sun Xun’s unique manner of working combines traditional manual techniques with modern digital technology, so the form and content with distinct Chinese traditional characteristics are vividly presented in the animation. Sun Xun’s creations reflect the modernity of oriental culture in the context of digital era.

About the Artist

Sun Xun was born in 1980 in Fuxin in Liaoning province, China. He graduated in 2005 from the Print-making Department of the China Academy of Art. In 2006 he established π Animation Studio. He currently lives and works in Beijing. The works of Sun Xun are mainly drawing and/or animation. Sun Xun also exhibits his individual cell drawings and other mixed media works, oftentimes alongside his videos. Sun Xun’s personal visual language consists of metaphoric imagery, dark and intense hand drawing, and dreamy narrative. In recent years, Sun Xun uses New Media Art as a point of origin to explore more possibilities within the expansive realm of visual art: he explores narrative methods using diverse mediums such as newspaper, book, woodcut print, Chinese ink, pigment powder, probe into non-linear expressions of time and space, and inquire into both realistic and fantastical representations based on his own understanding of society and sociological theories.

As an artist, Sun Xun’s works were collected by many art institutions, including White Rabbit Contemporary Chinese Art Collection, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Art Museum, etc. Sun Xun was awarded Asia Arts Game Changer Awards in 2018, the 8th AAC Art China · Young Artist Awards in 2014, and the Chinese Contemporary Art Awards (CCAA Best Young Artist) in 2010. His recent major solo exhibitions include: Sun Xun: Mythological Time, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (2021); Sun Xun: Time Spy, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida, U.S.A (2019); Sun Xun, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia (2018). His recent major group exhibitions include: Hawai’i Triennial 2022, Royal Hawaiian Center, U.S.A (2022); Asia Society Triennial, We Do Not Dream Alone, Asia Society Museum, New York, U.S.A (2020); 13th Havana Biennial, National Art Center, Havana, Cuba, (2019); The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Chinese Art Initiative at the Guggenheim, Tales of Our Time, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, U.S.A (2016).

While participating in art exhibitions extensively, Sun Xun has performed special screenings at Hong Kong International Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Holland Animation Film Festival, etc. He was also nominated for Venice International Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival respectively in 2010 and 2011.