Gems and Mirrors in the New Series by Shi Zhiying

Gems and Mirrors in the New Series by Shi Zhiying
#Exhibitions

The new series of paintings presented in the personal exhibition of Shi Zhiying is comprised of “still lifes” with stones and gems as their subjects. Created with a more lively and bright chromatic palette than the last series, the paintings - the subjects of which have as their prototype, stones as large as fingertips situated in the corner of the window of the artist’s studio - make the visible invisible, integrating both material and spiritual aspects. The gems and stones are of various forms, colours and textures, painted with great attention to detail, making them unique, different from one another - regardless of the similarities perceived by a fleeting glance. Shi Zhiying translates onto the canvas, not only what is difficult to see with the naked eye, but also the continuous and subtle changes of light, consistencies and colours which occur over long periods and mould the stones themselves. The body of work on display gives life to a personal exhibition of intimist tones - the spectator is invited to look under the surfaces of the objects depicted for the traces of the continuous flow of time. This thread connects the destiny of the objects themselves to that of the artist and the public that observes them.

Manuela Lietti - © 2022 ARTE.it for Bulgari Hotel Beijing