09 Nov Curio Boxes – Zhang Xiaoli’s Portable Landscapes
Zhang’s trademark “Lego landscapes” transform traditional visual art into a new from, with the distinguishable “Houses as Boxes” style. Her paintings take inspirations from conventional landscapes as well as the ancient legend of “the world within a gourd”. The artist has also transferred her life experiences onto the images, taking the spacial composition from Surrealist master René Magritte, and continues with the tradition of blue and green landscapes with a contemporary twist.
Conversing with the traditional style with a modern language and taking the surreal landscapes into ordinary everyday objects whilst capturing one’s memories and experiences, Zhang’s paintings reflect the traces of life and present the artist’s unique understanding of visual languages.