Installation view of Subjective Realm: Between Form and Flow at Fu Qiumeng Fine Art

Subjective Realm: Between Form and Flow
Closing Saturday, February 1, 2025
65 East 80th Street, Ground Floor, NYC

This is the final week to catch Subjective Realm: Between Form and Flow, a solo exhibition by Chinese artist Chen Duxi at Fu Qiumeng Fine Art. Featuring 23 works from Chen’s Chi Yi 持颐 series, this exhibition explores the fluid interplay of motion, stillness, and time through meticulous Gongbi 工笔 techniques (a Chinese traditional painting style that uses fine and controlled lines to define forms) on silk, enhanced by luminous mineral pigments.

For Chen, water is both a subject and a metaphor, symbolizing the continuous flow of time, the cycles of life, and the dynamic relationship between observer and observed. His understanding of fluidity extends beyond the physical, translating ephemeral movements into visual rhythms. Through the precise use of brushstroke, a cornerstone of Chinese aesthetics, Chen captures the trajectories of water, sediment, and magma, distilling their motion into elegant, layered compositions.

Each line in Chen’s work embodies both the passage of time and the compression of space, creating an intricate interplay of density and flow. Combined with vivid mineral pigments, his paintings achieve an ethereal balance of motion and stillness, inviting viewers to contemplate the deeper connections between nature, existence, and perception.

This latest body of work builds on themes introduced in his earlier Er Gong 尔躬 series, transforming outward observation into an intimate exploration of form, emotion, and meaning. This inward shift reflects Chen’s evolving focus on the essence of his inner realm, fleeting moments are turned into profound meditations on life and existence, inviting viewers into a deeply personal yet universal exploration of interconnectedness.

Be sure to experience Chen’s personal artistic journey before the show closes!

To learn more, click here.