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Artworks
Zhang Xiaoli China, b. 1989
Mountain Villa of Embracing Beauty 环秀山庄, 2022-2023Chinese ink and colour on paper 水墨设色纸本
71 1/2 x 48 1/2 in
181.6 x 123.2 cmThe intricacies of Zhang Xiaoli's Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty captivate observers with delightful surprises at every corridor turn and in each fleeting glimpse through the mist. The eponymous classical...The intricacies of Zhang Xiaoli's Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty captivate observers with delightful surprises at every corridor turn and in each fleeting glimpse through the mist. The eponymous classical garden functions as a meditative ground, designed to emulate a microcosm of the universe that embraces the profound wisdom of nature. Similar to the concealed path that guided the fisherman to chance upon the Peach Blossom Spring or the subtly visible trail that directed viewers through the ebb and flow of landscape paintings, the layers of rocks and architecture in Suzhou's classical gardens create a maze for visitors to wander. The villa’s scholarly rocks featured stone caves and chambers, forming a looping design with curved bridges and long corridors. With the villa transformed into a public park, the two paths are now fenced, and visitors can only contemplate the rocks from alternative perspectives. Addressing the unattainable exploration within the rocks, the scholarly rocks, sculpted in two styles by Zhang, guide viewers through tangible and mental realms. Overlapping spaces and surreal aisles resonate with the evolving perspectives and impressions of wandering in the garden. The irrational renders of windows reflect the garden from an alternative viewpoint or gaze into an unknown realm, blurring the line between imagination and reality. Playfully employing deconstructive techniques, the work reacts to the metamorphosis of the garden's impression and spatial experience brought about by the transition from private residences to a park.Exhibitions