W.ONESPACE is delighted to announce the upcoming exhibition, "Scène Noire", featuring the latest works by Chinese artist Chen Gaojie and Romanian artist Teodora Axente. The exhibition will officially open on September 8th, 2023.
The theme of this exhibition is the juxtaposition of language tricks and artistic narratives, delving into the dynamic interplay between positive and negative elements. Aiming to transcend linguistic constraints, it also tempts to explore how people perceive, reflect upon, and reconsider human subjectivity after the collapse of theological belief systems. This prompts the deconstruction and reconstruction of the very definition of existence within the framework of contemporary theoretical engagements.
Confronted with the irreversible reality of suffering and pain, humanity often seeks solace through the pursuit of inner spirituality. This journey for spiritual enlightenment triggers extensive discourse concerning the essence of human nature, conveyed through the realms of philology and philosophy.
From Nietzsche's profound statement "Gott ist tot" (God is dead) to Heidegger's contemplation that "Die Sprache ist das Haus des Seins" (Language is the house of being) and "Kein ding sei wo das wort gebricht" (No thing is where the word fails), to Foucault's thought-provoking proclamation of the "Mort de l'homme" (Death of man) ... Amidst the gradual dissolution of religious belief systems, rituals and ceremonies have undergone a metamorphic transition, adopting the appearance of artistic performances.
In this exhibition, the works of artists Chen Gaojie and Teodora Axente are woven together in the form of a compelling drama. Their artistic endeavors delve into reflections on the very essence of "Human Beings" in the post-pandemic era.
Structured akin to a three-act play, this exhibition embarks on the ontology of will, the theory of gameplay, and the construction of the stage. Beyond scrutinizing the symbols in the artist's paintings and studying their underlying spiritual meanings, we illuminate the concept through an examination of a Ga’u Box, which is used by worshippers to make offerings, as a means to unveil the "immanence of God" within religion. At the same time, we explore the origins of art within the realm of gameplay from the primitive period to the contemporary surrealist game theory, ultimately returning to the creation and expression of spirituality under anthropomorphism. In the final act, the exhibition delves into the rationale behind the artists' creative processes, examining the daily research and mystical contemplation that shape their artistic endeavors.
When language itself is questioned, the very fabric of possibilities woven by language begins to unravel. Symbolic themes intertwine with ontological concepts, giving birth to a dance of metaphorical irony and profound silence.
The artists employ absurd and anti-logical narrative language to shape the ideological structure of their painted realm. Through a surrealist lens, mystical scenes and religious symbols come to life. Rituals and fables intertwine, lilies and fish mountains emerge, eyes and suns cast their gaze, as crowns and towers assert their potent symbolism. Human fragments, serving as tangible components, find themselves grafted onto various forms of creatures. In this choreography of symbols, tangible objects yield the stage, their role assumed by symbols that underpin the complex mechanisms of this parallel universe.
As the curtain rises and the lights illuminate the stage, an enchanting drama unfolds, blending the hues of gold and black.
