ZHANG YI
Zhang Yi is a Chinese figurative painter whose works explore the subconscious and the psychological world. With a heavy nod towards Surrealism, her small-scale paintings often blend human and animal forms to celebrate the full spectrum of life—both real and imagined.
Early Years
Zhang Yi was born in 1988 in China. She gained her Bachelor of Arts at the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts (2011) in Shenyang after graduating from the attached high school in 2007. Yi went on to complete her Masters in oil painting at the academy in 2014.
After finishing her studies, Yi became interested in the power of installation art, fascinated by the objects and their materiality.
Zhang Yi Artworks
Yi’s practice stems from her observations of her own subconscious journeys, often journaling her dreams and recreating them in her paintings. Her use of anthropomorphism ties to ’primitive themes’ of emotion, desire, folklore and fantasy.
The Pillow Books
In 2019, Yi created the series The Pillow Books for her solo show at Post-Flamand Art Space, Dalian, China. The exhibition included both recent paintings and jewellery design. Yi’s A4-sized painting Until Tomorrow (2019) showcases the artist’s loose brushstroke, looking down on the hands and large leaf as though seeing through her eyes. In contrast, the water droplet at the centre utilises much tighter brushstroke, adding a trompe l’oeil effect and drawing the gaze.
Awards and Accolades
In 2016, Yi won a two-month residency at the Australian China Contemporary Art Foundation, Shanghai.
Exhibitions
Zhang Yi has been the subject of both solo exhibition and group exhibitions.
Solo exhibitions include Eukaryotic Domain, Faxiao Art Center, Shenyang, China (2020); The Pillow Books, Post-Flamand Art Space, Dalian, China (2019); Comfort, Wei Space, Shenyang (2013).
Group exhibitions include Latitude Narrative, Huku Art Museum, Dalian (2020); 3cm Museum, k11 art space, Shenyang (2019); One, Wanda Oneart Art Center, Shenyang (2018); RECONNECTING - CELEBRATING THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARTS CAN DO PROGRAM, ARK Gallery (2017); East Meets West, Jiuli Art Museum, Shenyang (2016).
Annie Curtis | Ocula | 2022
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