“We Are Millennials” Group Exhibition

Artists: Gong Zhanlei, Zhang Han, Zhang Zheng

Exhibition Duration: June 9th - August 20th 2023

As the world around us changes, it is becoming increasingly important for artists to express the passage of time and reflect the shifting cultural landscape. This is especially true for Millennials visual artists in China, who are using their contemporary works to offer a unique perspective on modern society.

These artists are adept at using the latest technological advancements to create stunning compositions that reflect the changing world around them. They are able to seamlessly blend traditional Chinese art forms with modern techniques, producing works that are both visually striking and deeply meaningful.

One of the major differences between the millennial artists in China and their previous generation is that they are much more individualized. Indeed, their artworks are more about unique personal experience and society.

The summer exhibition at Art+ Shanghai Gallery, “We are Millennials”, will showcase an array of works in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, and installation art. The artists on display Gong Zhanlei, Zhang Han, Zhang Zheng, cover a range of topics including the unique challenges and opportunities faced by millennial artists, the impact of technology on their work, and the ways in which they are redefining traditional forms of art.

Through their art, Millennials visual artists in China are able to communicate complex ideas and emotions that resonate with audiences around the world. They are able to explore themes such as identity, globalization, and the impact of technology on society in ways that are both insightful and thought-provoking.

Gong Zhanlei was born in 1989 in Hengshui, Hebei province. He graduated from the Experimental Art Institute of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 2017 and received a Master ‘s degree in Integrated Visual Arts.

Certain things from the past are gradually disappearing from our view. This has become a source of inspiration for Gong Zhanlei, who aims to express this passage of time in his works. By incorporating elements from the past into his art as old business cards or postal cards, the artist creates a bridge between the present and the past, allowing us to better understand our history and the significant role it plays in shaping our future. In this way, art serves as a powerful tool for preserving our culture and heritage, while also providing a fresh perspective on the world around us.

Zhang Han, was born in 1997 in Dalian, Liaoning Province. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Fourth Studio, Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in 2020. She received a Master’s degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA)in 2023, Tutor: Lv Pinchang 

Zhang Han's creations are a beautiful and intriguing representation of the dream world, inspired by Zhuang Zhou's dream of a butterfly. In Zhang Han’s works, the butterfly, representing the dream world in the Eastern context, is combined with the decorative form of the dreamcatchers in Western culture, creating a unique blend of understanding and expression of the dream world from both cultures.

In Zhang Han's creations, butterflies become the imagery that she perceives to be the most representative of the spirit of the ceramic material. The transformation process that both butterflies and clay undergo is nothing short of magical. Butterflies emerge from cocoons; their true beauty is revealed only after a period of struggle and transformation. Clay, too, is transformed through fire, emerging as porcelain, its unique beauty is revealed only after being shaped and fired.

Overall, Zhang Han's work is a masterful representation of the beauty and magic of the dream world, blending Eastern and Western cultures.

Zhang Zheng was Born in 1992 Weifang, Shandong. He graduated from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts with a Bachelor's degree in 2017, and obtained his Master degree from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in 2023. 

Zhang Zheng's artworks explore the complex relationship between human beings and their desires. The visual representation is a gentle, fragmented, and symbolic image that reflects the uncertainty of reality. The artworks utilize multiple and repetitive elements, such as heads, legs, and bodies, as well as images and colors like snakes, red fruits, lips, and flames, to convey the metaphor of desire. 

The use of multiple elements in the artwork highlights the multifaceted nature of desire, and how it can take many different forms and affect us in different ways. Zhang Zheng invites the viewer to contemplate their own relationship with their desires.

In conclusion, the work of Millennials visual artists in China is an essential part of the contemporary art world. Their ability to express the passage of time and reflect the changing cultural landscape is a testament to their talent and insight. It is clear that these artists will play an important role in shaping our understanding of the world we live in.

We believe that art has the power to bridge cultural divides and bring people together in new and unexpected ways, and we are excited to invite you to be a part of this ongoing conversation.

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