「NO EVIL, NO JOY - Xu Qu Solo Exhibition」opened on December 9, at the Nanshan Society

Gallery Dynamic

2023.12.10

EXHIBITION TITLE NO EVIL, NO JOY ARTIST Xu Qu DURATION 2023.12.09 - 2024.02.29 VENUE NAN SHAN SOCIETY South of Yulang International Building No.77 Jiefang Road, Xi’an ABOUT THE EXHIBITION The solo exhibition of artist Xu Qu (b. 1978, China), titled NO EVIL, NO JOY, opened on December 9, 2023, at the Nanshan Society in Xi'an. This exhibition showcases six works spanning from 2014 to the present, offering a profound exploration into the artist's oeuvre. The exhibition will run until February 29, 2024. NO EVIL, NO JOY serves as a manifestation of the artist's attitudes, wherein each individual or grouped work subtly encapsulates nuanced conceptualizations of "evil." Within the installation Einstein, the African wood carvings and a hand towel correspond with the iconic photograph capturing physicist Einstein cheekily sticking out his tongue. This work exudes a playful undertone while conveying a sense of resignation. In the artist's video piece from 2015, Zebra, the ritualistic process of slaughtering a black horse is transformed into the skinning of a zebra, subtly altering the routine with a nuanced technical and conceptual modification. The resulting impact amplifies the darker facets inherent in human nature." The exhibited works, spanning the past decade, stand as emblematic representatives of the artist's broader body of work. As articulated in interviews, Xu Qu poignantly underscores, "We invariably find ourselves ensconced within a perishing era, wherein the authenticity of human evil eclipses the insincere embrace of flattery." ARTIST Xu Qu was born in 1978 in Jiangsu, China. In 2008, Xu Qu graduated with an MFA in Fine Arts and Film at Braunschweig University of Art, Germany. The artist currently lives and works in Beijing, China. Xu Qu conveys his attitude towards society and his understanding of the world through artistic practice. He focuses on exploring the interconnections among social systems in different dimensions and fields. Starting from a profound insight into social reality, Xu Qu uncovers the subtle aspects within his field of vision, revealing the macro through a grasp of the micro. He navigates through various value systems and aesthetic experiences, extending his reflections on the interplay of social systems. Guided by his pursuit of concise and clear presentation, Xu Qu employs diverse media to address different topics, resulting in a multidimensional artistic practice that encompasses painting, performance, video, installation, and sculpture. Xu Qu's recent solo exhibitions include Xu Qu: Advent, Long Museum West Bund, Shanghai, China, 2023; Xu Qu: Central Axis, Tang Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea, 2023; Xu Qu: Rejuvenation, Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing, China, 2021; Xu Qu: Straight Line, Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong, China, 2021; Desert, Each Modern, Taipei, China, 2020; Fineness, Massimo De Carlo, Hong Kong, China, 2019; Chaos, Massimo De Carlo, Milan, Italy, 2019; Ache, Antenna Space, Shanghai, China, 2018. Xu Qu has participated in group exhibitions at renowned institutions both domestically and internationally, including Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris, France), K11 Art Foundation (Hong Kong, China), UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (Beijing, China), Taikang Space (Beijing, China), OCAT Shanghai (Shanghai, China), 21st Century Minsheng Art Museum (Shanghai, China), Long Museum (Shanghai, China), Guangdong Times Art Museum (Guangzhou, China), Song Art Museum (Beijing, China), and He Art Museum (Foshan, China).

Artists

Xu Qu

Xu Qu was born in 1978 in Jiangsu, China. Xu Qu graduated with a MFA in Diplom of Fine Art and Film at Braunschweig University of Art, Germany in 2007. The artist is currently lives and works in Beijing.

Xu Qu conveys his attitude towards society and his understanding of the world through artistic practice. He focuses on exploring the interconnections among social systems in different dimensions and fields. Starting from a profound insight into social reality, Xu Qu uncovers the subtle aspects within his field of vision, revealing the macro through a grasp of the micro. He navigates through various value systems and aesthetic experiences, extending his reflections on the interplay of social systems. Guided by his pursuit of concise and clear presentation, Xu Qu employs diverse media to address different topics, resulting in a multidimensional artistic practice that encompasses painting, performance, video, installation, and sculpture.

Xu Qu's recent solo exhibitions include Emergence, Triumph Gallery, Beijing, China, 2024; No Evil, No Joy, Nanshan Society, Xi’an, China, 2023; Advent, Long Museum West Bund, Shanghai, China, 2023; Central Axis, Tang Contemporary Art, Seoul, Korea, 2023; Rejuvenation, Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing, China, 2021; Straight Line, Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong, China, 2021; Desert, Each Modern, Taipei, China, 2020; Fineness, Massimo De Carlo, Hong Kong, China, 2019; Chaos, Massimo De Carlo, Milan, Italy, 2019; Ache, Antenna Space, Shanghai, China, 2018. Xu Qu has participated in group exhibitions at renowned institutions both domestically and internationally, including Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris, France), K11 Art Foundation (Hong Kong, China), UCCA Center for Contemporary Art (Beijing, China), Taikang Space (Beijing, China), OCAT Shanghai (Shanghai, China), 21st Century Minsheng Art Museum (Shanghai, China), Long Museum (Shanghai, China), Guangdong Times Art Museum (Guangzhou, China), Song Art Museum (Beijing, China), and He Art Museum (Foshan, China).

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