White Space Art Asia is proud to present an introspective group show, ‘Heaven in a Wildflower’, centered around dainty artworks of contemporary Asia.
Due to the popularisation of art and the economisation of space today, works that are compact in scale and nimble in technique have become a clear marker of accessible art. However, such paintings are not a novelty of the 21st century. ‘Heaven in a Wildflower’ features a myriad of small-format paintings from East and Southeast Asia across different mediums. From acrylic to Chinese ink, the exhibition showcases fine works by contemporary artists. A celebrated master of Chinese ink, Jia Youfu explores his affinity with nature in the form of striking yet tamed strokes of ink on rice paper. Displayed alongside Du Xue’s delicate silk portraitures of womanhood are also Zhang Wen’s heartfelt portrayals of an idyllic childhood that is naive but also veiled by wistful wisdom that can only be recognized retrospectively from the vantage point of experience. Hailing from Japan, Akio Harada expresses texture and emotions through animals. Accompanying the thoughtful paintings are American artist Larry Mclaughlin’s delicate animal sculptures constructed from hand-made concrete. Last but not least, the exhibition also showcases up-an-coming Indonesian artist Taufiq.HT’s intricate paintings on hand-carved wood. Contemplating the past and living in the present, the show is a vibrant medley of Eastern and Western present-day renditions of miniature paintings.
For a limited time, view the show in person at our gallery from 22 March to 14 April 2024.
Zhang Wen’s brushstrokes are simple and forthright, a style that amplifies her narrative about childhood innocence. Her use of colour, tonal variation and colour saturation is reminiscent of traditional Chinese ink, and her exceptional composition and perspective reveals an uncommon intelligence. Her art has the distinctive feel and atmosphere of Chinese ink, yet at the same time is distinctive with her own intimately personal and experimental language.
The Edge of the Universe
Zhang Wen
85 x 66 cm
Chinese Ink on Silk
A Meeting By Moonlight
Zhang Wen
49 x 37 cm
Chinese Ink on Paper
Click here to see Zhang Wen’s available artworks.
Jia Youfu displays superb techniques of ink-accumulating, ink-splashing and ink-splitting, thus establishing an art form and personality unique to his own. His art career began with his enrolment in the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1960, under the tutelage of Li Keran, Ye Qianyu, Li Kuchan, Zong Qixiang and He Haixia. Following his graduation, he devoted his life to the teaching and creation of Chinese landscape painting. In recent years, Professor Jia has been exploring how the inner vicissitudes of nature show through in his brand of Chinese landscape painting. His work has influenced new generations of artists and expanded the horizon of contemporary Chinese art, continuing the early ground-breaking work of Huang Binghong and Li Keran.
Passing of the Rain
Jia Youfu
47 x 34 cm
Chinese Ink on Paper
Click here to see Jia Youfu’s available artworks.
Thoughtful and intimate, Chinese artist Du Xue’s works are an ethereal perspective into girlhood. In delicately layered compositions of acrylic on silk, her insouciant style captures a seemingly intangible femininity with artful subtleness. Using a variety of silk – including imported Japanese silk, faux Japanese silk, and Chinese silk—Du Xue achieves a variety of textures that captures an exquisite layering unique to each piece. She makes use of diluted acrylic and Chinese ink together with the characteristic absorbency of silk to create a wash effect. Her technique is a remarkably unique fusion of western painting and Chinese style ink wash. Each work is a refreshing vignette into the median of girlhood adolescence, revealing the artist’s intuitive flair for lyricism and artistry.
Introspection
Du Xue
63 x 63 cm
Acrylic on Silk
Spring Blossom
Du Xue
63 x 63 cm
Acrylic on Paper
Click here to see Du Xue’s available artworks.
With a formal background in oil painting, Akio Harada depicts human emotions in the shapes of animals in his endeavor to explore the gap between everyday life and fantasy with poeticism and delicate tenderness. He used to draw only large paintings of subjects, like faceless dogs, which were somewhat violent and out-of-place. However, after having a child, Akio began to approach painting with the mindset of creating art for others. As a father and a painter, Akio enjoys immortalizing his child’s reactions through art. His keen observation allows him to condense and reflect the nuances of human emotions on animals, breathing life into his works. His muted palette colors the living space in a comfortable fashion.
Cold Orange Nose
Akio Harada
40 x 40 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
Mr. Detective
Akio Harada
40 x 40 cm
Acrylic on Canvas
Click here to see Akio Harada’s available artworks.
Indonesian artist Taufiq.HT’s oeuvre expresses the traits of a quintessential Western miniatures: compact and packed with details. A modern interpretation of the still-life genre, Taufiq.HT’s style is an invigorating take on the centuries-old Western genre of painting. With vibrant and surrealist form, the artist’s stylized interiors are a contemporary execution of a genre that for centuries, captured the social milieu and objects of its period. Framed with meticulously carved frames, the geometrical designs are a colourful interrogation of the interior and exterior world.
A Botanist’s Guide to Periwinkles and Murakami
Taufiq.HT
64 x 64 cm
Acrylic on Wood Panel and Frame
Headroom to Dream
Taufiq.HT
56 x 45 cm
Acrylic on Wood Panel and Frame
Click here to see Taufiq.Ht’s available works.
