"...He skillfully integrates cross-shaped structures, custom color blocks, and linear elements to visualize the subtle interplay between individual emotion and cosmic order, evoking a silent yet profound dialogue between uncertainty and certainty, reason and emotion."
"The exhibition 'Life Line' represents not only a milestone in Dove's artistic journey but also a vital reflection of his use of paint to question life, express his inner self, and contemplate the world. His canvases reveal not just the tension between color and composition but also the uncertainty and choices that define human existence."
"We thank him for opening a door to the art of bioethics through such heartfelt and evocative creations."
On the afternoon of October 25, 2025, the "Life Line: An Exhibition of Dove's Work" by renowned Chinese avant-garde artist Dove opened at the Art Flow of Nancy's Gallery.
Since the 1990s, Dove's artistic style and creative philosophy have been featured and examined in numerous publications, including A History of Ideas in Pioneering Contemporary Chinese Art, establishing him as a leading figure in contemporary Chinese art.
The exhibition showcases six of Dove's works—"Dax," "One Two Three Four," "One Two Zero Four Seven," "Pworlds (Being in the World)," "Earlym," and "Aboutc." These pieces share a distinctive aesthetic characterized by cross-shaped structures, broad color blocks, and intersecting lines. The exhibition will remain open until December 5.
At the center of the gallery, a passage dated May 3, 2024, outlines Dove's artistic philosophy: "For many a decade, I have been captivated by a certain inherent order that generates this world. My work(s) embody a profound dialogue with this world-generating force."
Although Professor Dove was unable to return from New York, dozens of his friends, colleagues, and art enthusiasts attended the opening ceremony. Several friends and scholars delivered speeches, sharing memories of their friendship with Dove, reflecting on his artistic pursuits, and expressing admiration for his creations.
In her opening remarks, Nancy, director of Nancy's Gallery, stated, "Through Life Line, Mr. Dove seeks to explore the relationship between the individual and the environment, as well as between the created and the creator."
In his speech, longtime friend and art collector Lian Xin recalled Dove's early explorations of cross-shaped compositions. "I remember when he first began creating, the walls and floor of his studio were covered with dense sketches of crosses. I asked what they meant, and he said the cross represents a coordinate, an encounter, a choice, a pull, and a support. The horizontal line symbolizes the connection between humanity, the earth, and time, while the vertical line expresses a yearning for the heavens, the future, and infinity. The intersection embodies the essence of life, the pain, anxiety, joy, and reflection we experience in every moment."
He added, "Dove strives to capture the deep pulse of life in its purest form." From his solitary explorations in the studio to the present, Dove has spent decades refining his art and using his personal experiences to engage in dialogue with the public through his works.
Zhang Yi, founder of postmodern management theory and researcher at Peking University, remarked in his speech, "In both the history of contemporary Chinese art and global contemporary art, Dove's creations stand out as truly unique. Two key ideas define 20th-century art history: the end of philosophy and the end of art. In such an era, if we continue creating under the framework of modernity and traditional philosophical or artistic concepts, our art becomes meaningless. The end of art does not signify the end of art history; rather, artistic progress requires new ideas. I believe Dove's works transcend the modern dilemma of the 'end of philosophy and art,' achieving a breakthrough through the central image of the cross."
Philosopher and Tongji University Professor Emeritus Chen Jiaqi reflected on his friendship with Dove, which began in the 1980s. Observing Dove's latest paintings, he noted the philosophical reflections interwoven through their lines. "Countless uncertainties and contingencies represent opportunities. Perhaps we exist within such a contingent present. From his works, I sense the richness of possibility and the infinite potential within reality. There is only one reality, yet within it lies an endless interplay of possibilities, contingencies, and transformations."
Professor Zha Changping, curator of the exhibition, art critic, and Bible scholar, noted that this is the fourth exhibition in the Life Art series. "Life art differs from the art of life. What does life art mean? While the art of life treats life as an object to be expressed, life art presents life itself as the subject."
He continued, "We are human because we are eternal beings, living, breathing, and responsive to cultural traditions. In this sense, art serves as a symbolic reflection of human life. Each of our lives, therefore, is itself the most magnificent and profound work of art."
Professor Zha outlined three phases in Dove's artistic exploration: the first, beginning in 1993 during China's new era, saw avant-garde works seeking breakthroughs; the second, in the 2000s, focused on a series of crosses; and the third, in the 2020s, introduced diaspora crosses, some of which are featured in this exhibition. "Through these works, Dove vividly expresses our current way of life—an era marked by diaspora. He captures the realities and challenges of our postmodern existence with remarkable insight."
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
