Base Gallery is pleased to pronounce the opening of the exhibition “Welcome, Welcome: Art – Beijing – Contemporary”.

The capital city of Beijing is now undergoing a drastic transformation, and this show focuses on the paintings by the Chinese artists of new generation who live and work in the city.

Having failed in the pro-democracy movement, the mainstream of Chinese Art has been formed by the idea of “China” in the Western context throughout the 90s. However in recent years of reform and liberalization, some artists have started to create their artworks from their personal passion and urge even though they still feel themselves as part of the society.

For instance Li Songsong paints large format paintings in oils, and his paintings are based on the photographs of political incidents in Chinese history. There lie personal intents rather than political messages, even to search and confirm his origin through his own eyes.

These works in the rise of new China have rich tradition of figurative arts and solid technique in the background, and are sometimes presented with a sense of humour and calm objectivity. They are the dialogues with the outside world, as well as inner dialogues. However personal they might be, they could rather achieve universality.

Participating Artists:
Ji Dachun
Zhang Dongliang
Li Songsong
Qiu Xiaofei

Works (selected)

Li Songsong
Welcome, Welcome
180x320cm
oil on canvas
2001

Ji Dachun
Crying
110x110cm
acrylic and pencil on canvas
2002

Zhang Dongliang
What Are You Searching for?
40x40cm(9 pieces)
oil on canvas
2003

Qiu Xiaofei
The Ferris Wheel
200x150cm
oil on canvas
2003
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