Shi Chengdong: Pioneer, Advancing with Light

Ginkgo Space is pleased to announce a solo exhibition by Shi Chengdong, titled “Pioneer, Advancing with Light”, from November 18 to December 23, 2023. This exhibition is the artist’s first collaboration with Ginkgo Space, as well as his first solo exhibition in Shenzhen. The exhibition is curated by Feng Yafei.

In Shi Chengdong’s new works, light serves as the thread, reshaping the concepts of space and time. Three works in the exhibition emphasize this theme. In “Advancing with Light”, light radiates from the center of the image, breaking through the field, and disrupting space and time. The surrounding sky, earth, and trees are all engulfed in massive beams of light, leaving only two distinct excavators illuminated in their determined advance. The depiction of shadows on either side of the image adds a sense of traversal — perhaps the shadows of the excavators or remnants of memories left in space and time. This hallucinatory theatrical sense runs throughout his work, seemingly grounded in reality yet evoking a realm of the subconscious. The artist aims to explore the interplay between inner contemplation and the external world. The figure continuously advancing digs into the light, seeking self-discovery in the dreamlike landscape.

In “Floating Shadow” is portrayed another state of advancement. Within the composition, advancing figures traverse stairs formed by glimmering waves, entering a naturally recessed theatre. Their footsteps meander up and down, navigating a circuitous and directionless path. These figures appear as if lost at a crossroads, yet their journey persists along the winding road, with the destination becoming of lesser importance.

Shi Chengdong’s works depict the realm of light and the essence of shadow. Light and shadow intersect in the surreal space he creates. In “Photic Theatre”, the artist emphasizes the theme of “dialogue”. The emergence of light creates a rotating energy field in the scene, fostering conversations between individuals, humanity and nature, as well as the close and distant perspectives. A subtle touch of inexplicable purple serves as the finishing stroke, introducing a sense of magical temporal traversal and infusing the scene with a surreal significance. “Advancing with Light” not only refers to the recurring theme of “light” in Shi Chengdong’s works but also reflects the artist’s talent and determination to firmly advance on the artistic path.

Shi Chengdong was born in Shanghai, China in 1989, graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree and in 2018 with a master’s degree. He currently teaches in the Painting Department within the Department of Stage Design at the Shanghai Theatre Academy.

Special thanks

Author: Feng Yafei

Poster Design: INNEI

Translation: Yi Hanqi