Shen Chen: Shen Chen

Ginkgo space is honoured to announce that Shen Chen's sixth solo exhibition at Ginkgo Space will open on October 19, 2024. This exhibition will be the artist's first solo exhibition in Shenzhen. The exhibition will feature his latest monochromatic and polychromatic abstract paintings as the main theme and will be open until November 30.

The exhibition will display several new works created by the artist in 2024. On one hand, these works explore the complex and diverse relationships with space through polychromatic forms; on the other hand, they extend the language path of his mature gray works, exploring new possibilities for ink painting practice within a modernist context. The exhibition will also present the evolution of Shen Chen's mature abstract language, from his experimental ink period in the 1980s, his experimental acrylic period in the 1990s, to the gray period in the early 2000s, with significant transitional works from each phase. Color sketches will also be displayed, showcasing the artist's continuous research on the relationships between color, lines, and space in both monochromatic and polychromatic forms.

As a pioneer of experimental ink painting in the 1980s, Shen Chen began the process of "de-inking" in the 1990s, replacing ink with acrylic paint diluted with water, switching from Xuan paper to linen canvas, and using traditional Chinese brushes to apply paint evenly on the canvas. He extracted the brushwork and brush intention implied in traditional  Chinese painting,  presenting a sense of "abstraction" and transcendent spirituality through structured colors and lines. In his abstract practice, he pushed the study of materials,  forms,  and space,  while seeking his personal spiritual footing in what seemed to be monotonous and repetitive work.

Shen Chen once said that his paintings are not about representing visible whiteness, but rather using different shades of gray to make the illusion of white appear. Throughout his artistic career spanning over 50 years, he has always pursued a state of creation that elevates his technique to the level of spiritual sublimation.