CHINA SERIES
WATER LILY POND OF LIFE | FEELING IS LIBERTY | TIME: PORTRAIT OF HISTORY | CHINA SERIES
2000-2004 | 1993-1999 | 1983-1992 | 1973-1982
2000-2004 | 1993-1999 | 1983-1992 | 1973-1982
The artist life of the Zhou Brothers is filled with legends that express their outstanding talent. Since their youth, their vigorous creative passion has kept them exploring and expanding, from Guangxi to Beijing, China to the world beyond. Their journey of collaboration on the modern art stage has been wonderfully diverse artistically, establishing their own reputation and their place in the international art world.
The start of modern art in China was difficult. During the opening reform era, with its influx of Western culture, the Zhou Brothers derived an artistic expression and form from the remains of ancient Chinese rock paintings. They also obtained enlightenment on the power of life. They have creatively transformed their native, traditional artistic background into their own artistic language, showing deep concern and for the human subject in their work. Using powerful visual structure and robust modeling, they derive insightful implications on the condition of man and nature, life and the universe that are like colorful symphonies. By expressing their idealistic yearning and unrestrained freedom, their distinctive personalities come to light.
The Zhou Brothers fuse the spirituality and ideography of Eastern art with the representation and abstraction of Western modern art in such a unique way that they have established a dialogue with mainstream art forms in the United States and the West, where they have gained widespread appreciation and praise through the past decades of their career. Moreover, as Chinese artists, their great contribution to international modern art has historical significance.
They are a pair of diligent inventors, persistently exploring beyond their previous achievements while continuously expanding their “artistic territory”. They use mixed media, based on their oil painting. They draw dynamics from an unconscious free expression, forming a framework filled with tension, overlapping figures and textures of layered expression that has grand and mysterious narrative features. They also expand planar forms into three-dimensional sculptures and spatial work, resulting in a rich artistic achievement.
In China, their art is still unknown to many people. Today, communication about international art is increasingly active. This exhibition in China that welcomes them back, provides an overview of their achievement, and brings the opportunity for China to get to know them and admire their work. As one of their old friends, I write this short introduction sincerely. The “Zhou style” becomes so distinct in their new work that it adds even more vivid light and luster, creating a lasting impression for the viewer.
Fan Di'an
Director of National Art Museum of China
The start of modern art in China was difficult. During the opening reform era, with its influx of Western culture, the Zhou Brothers derived an artistic expression and form from the remains of ancient Chinese rock paintings. They also obtained enlightenment on the power of life. They have creatively transformed their native, traditional artistic background into their own artistic language, showing deep concern and for the human subject in their work. Using powerful visual structure and robust modeling, they derive insightful implications on the condition of man and nature, life and the universe that are like colorful symphonies. By expressing their idealistic yearning and unrestrained freedom, their distinctive personalities come to light.
The Zhou Brothers fuse the spirituality and ideography of Eastern art with the representation and abstraction of Western modern art in such a unique way that they have established a dialogue with mainstream art forms in the United States and the West, where they have gained widespread appreciation and praise through the past decades of their career. Moreover, as Chinese artists, their great contribution to international modern art has historical significance.
They are a pair of diligent inventors, persistently exploring beyond their previous achievements while continuously expanding their “artistic territory”. They use mixed media, based on their oil painting. They draw dynamics from an unconscious free expression, forming a framework filled with tension, overlapping figures and textures of layered expression that has grand and mysterious narrative features. They also expand planar forms into three-dimensional sculptures and spatial work, resulting in a rich artistic achievement.
In China, their art is still unknown to many people. Today, communication about international art is increasingly active. This exhibition in China that welcomes them back, provides an overview of their achievement, and brings the opportunity for China to get to know them and admire their work. As one of their old friends, I write this short introduction sincerely. The “Zhou style” becomes so distinct in their new work that it adds even more vivid light and luster, creating a lasting impression for the viewer.
Fan Di'an
Director of National Art Museum of China
