Huang Rui: Red—The Lack of Coagulated Blood

Ginkgo Space is delighted to announce that we will present a solo exhibition by Huang Rui titled “Red—The Lack of Coagulated Blood” in Shanghai. This exhibition marks the first collaboration between the artist and Ginkgo Space. The exhibition will showcase Huang Rui's rich and in-depth research and creation of art historical significance on the special attribute of “Red” over the past five decades, from the late 1970s to the present. Nearly twenty works spanning the different historical stages of Huang Rui from the “Stars” Period, the period of travelling to Japan, and the 798 Period; presenting his rich artistic practice full of historical value from the early abstraction, the “Si He Yuan” Series, the “Bagua” Series, the “Spatial Structure” Series, the “Space” Series, to the recent “Deficiency” Series.

“Red” has always been an important element in Huang Rui's works. Over time, what has drawn the artist towards an extreme are the reds of ancient Beijing, the faded reds of hometown, and the reds in the poetry of Du Fu. Tracing back to the survival of primitive humans bound by coagulated blood, the exhibitino is therefore named as: Red - The Deficiency of Coagulated Blood. Blood red represents output and strength, accompanied by cheers and praise, while the coagulated blood of stopping bleeding is subdued and tragic. Compared to swords and flames, they are more like shields or city walls. "The second renovation movement of the updating city took place in the 1980s, when I created the ‘Si He Yuan’ series, followed by the ‘Spatial Structure’ series, and the ‘Space’ series after moving to Japan. All of these works are naturally unfolding research and progression. Without having read the ‘Tao Te Ching’ and experimenting with the creation of the ‘I Ching’, I wouldn't have obtained the dual techniques of transformation and perseverance, nor would I have entered the new challenges of the ‘Deficiency’ series."

From early to new works, Huang Rui continuously think, modify, and adjust the works and display plans to unleash the theme. The visual meaning of this exhibition will transcend the barriers of current public awareness, that the creators of civilization are the creators of the human community and the objective world, even if they are not present in the contemporary scene.

Huang Rui, born in Beijing in 1952, and now lives and works in Beijing. Huang Rui was one of the founders of China's pioneering art group “Stars Painting Society”, and published his works in the “Stars Exhibition” in 1979. In the 1980s, he mainly created paintings, influenced by various styles such as Expressionism, Abstract Expressionism, Fauvism and Cubism. In the 1990s, he began to explore in a more experimental and diversified direction, involving himself in various fields such as installation, performance art, photography and printmaking. Important solo exhibition includes Void as Name (Long Museum, Shanghai,2023), Huang Rui: Art Life (Jupiter Museum, Shenzhen,2021), Huang Rui: The Way of Abstraction (UCCA, Beijing, 2021), Beijing City of Animal Time 1204-2009 (Museum of the Undercity, Brussels, 2009), Chinese History of Animal Time (Museum of the Roman Walls, Rome, 2008), Huang Rui Star Era 1977-1984 (He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, 2007), Huang Rui Exhibition ( Osaka Prefectural Contemporary Art Center, Osaka, 1990).

Important group exhibition includes Art After 1989 and China: Theater of the World (Guggenheim Museum, New York, 2017), China 8 (Dusseldorf National Art Museum, Bonn National Art Museum, 2015), Venice Biennale (2013), and Star Art Exhibition (Outside the Wall of National Art Museum of China, Beijing, 1979).