“The ocean and the sky are both blue, a color that symbolizes endless possibilities and inspires us to explore the mysteries of life.”
This is a description of the theme of Heiyue (Black Moon) Ji Shengli’s solo art exhibition, “Life in Blue,” which opened on September 6.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition at Nancy’s Gallery in Shanghai, the gallery director Nancy Lee talked about how the color blue can inspire people to explore life’s mysteries. The exhibition featured Heiyue’s “Untitled” series, where he seeks to capture the sanctity, energy, prosperity, and hope in life through his affirmative paintings in International Klein Blue and art installations in royal blue.
Heiyue Ji Shengli was born and raised in Qinghai. In 1993, he joined the Yuanmingyuan artist colony, which marked the beginning of his artistic journey. From 2000 to 2012, Shengli worked on various artistic projects in Kobe, Oban, New York, and Beijing. One of his most notable works, “Buttocks 123 by Hei Yue,” playfully and provocatively challenges viewers to reflect on self-discipline. Hei Yue’s artistic repertoire also includes pieces such as “The Lookout,” “Untitled” (2018) featuring a clenched baby fist, and “What is Art? It’s About the People! – Hei Yue’s Art in Close-Up at Jingdezhen,” among others.
This exhibition features artwork in the shade of International Klein Blue, including landscapes, bamboo, and orchids painted with carborundum, canvas, and acrylic. The art pieces also incorporate elements such as ceramics, iron pins, discarded televisions, tin, and rotten wood.
In his introduction, curator and art critic Dr. Zha Changping mentioned that most of the artworks on display were created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two landscape paintings titled “Untitled” were created in 2021. These paintings have a plenty of empty space above the dynamic flowing "golden blue", giving viewers a sense of infinite brightness. It is a gentle yet strong feeling, both subjective and objective at the same time.
Zhang Xi, the founder of the Modern Art Museum Shanghai, praised Heiyue as a truly exceptional artist whose career is always evolving along with his life. After studying art in Qinghai, Heiyue has traveled far and wide to places like Beijing, Japan, New York, Jingdezhen, and Shanghai in search of inspiration. Mr. Zhang said, “Heiyue’s bamboo paintings are like the bones of a seasoned artist, with colors so beautiful they almost feel soft to the touch. However, in reality, these bones have been there since a young age, and what I see more are spines that cannot bend down.”
Professor Zhu Guohua, who holds a joint appointment in the Department of Chinese Language at East China Normal University and the School of International Chinese Studies, shared his thoughts on Hei Yue’s bamboo artwork, “The bamboo resembles bones, giving them a fragile appearance that challenges our traditional view of bamboo. By juxtaposing harmony and disharmony, as well as life and lifeless objects, Heiyue creates a contrast that encourages us viewers to ponder deeper meanings.”
Li Xiaofeng, a professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts and former curator of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, as well as a well-known critic, shared his thoughts on the artwork, “I believe these pieces are somehow connected to the epidemic. During that time of feeling suffocated while stuck at home, we need more vibrant colors to breathe life back into us. Heiyue, through his art, has successfully given us a sense of freedom and fresh air, fulfilling his artistic mission with great responsibility. In the realm of world art history, the color blue has always been associated with nobility, often reserved for figures like the Virgin Mary. It represents rationality, with a touch of solitude and mystery, giving off a feeling of purity. This color also symbolizes a type of freedom, one that is sacred and noble, rather than chaotic and lawless.”
Curator and art critic Dr. Zha Changping shared his experience visiting Heiyue’s studio, “It is quite a spacious place. But despite the sweltering heat a week earlier, Mr. Heiyue said, "I will get an air conditioner when finances allow." It is truly uncommon to see an artist so determined in the face of adversity. In many aspects of our lives, pushing through challenges is crucial, even if persistence does not always guarantee success. That is just a part of life.”
He went on to say, “There is a shade of blue known as International Klein Blue, but how does it differ from the blue of Heiyue? Klein once remarked, ‘When this blue is placed in the ocean, the ocean becomes bluer.’ I am calling Heiyue’s blue 'Heiyue - International Shengli Blue'. If we infuse this blue into the sea of life, our hearts will feel more expansive, deep, and brimmed with hope.”
The exhibition will run for 40 days and end on October 16.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
