A painting by Jiang Shan.
Jiang Shan, a train conductor-turned-artist, is exhibiting his oil paintings and ceramic sculptures at an exhibition titled “Organic City,” representing his changing views on the world over the past 10 years.
His paintings — the subjects of which are mostly distorted and misplaced urban buildings, machines and vehicles — can be divided into two parts. Works created 10 years ago are tough and grey, while paintings made in the past three years are mostly pink and soft. “Apart from humans and animals, buildings and machines are also important elements in cities,” said Jiang, who studied mechanics in a railway school and used to be a train conductor in Guangzhou.
Thanks to his longtime hobby of painting, the Hunan native obtained his master’s degree in oil painting from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 2007. He has also served as editor-in-chief of Tencent Guangdong’s art page, curated exhibitions and participated in the founding of an art museum in Foshan. Since 2002, he began creating his urban series, focusing on the growth of buildings and motion of machines in cities to express the homogeneity, coexistence and connections of humans and machines.
“Artists express their views of the world through art creations. Sometimes, they have no answers but to provide their ways and perspectives. How they view the world and how they render it will finally form their creation styles. Ten years ago, I saw the world as tough and grey, now I have changed and I see the world as soft, organic and transparent,” Jiang explained.
Dates: Until Oct. 11
Venue: Zhiyuan Art Gallery, Block B1, Nanshan Zhiyuan, 1001 Xueyuan Boulevard, Nanshan District (南山区学苑大道1001号南山智园B1栋智园艺廊)
Metro: Line 5 to Tanglang Station (塘朗站), Exit C