Qiu Anxiong
The Temptation of the Land
September 15 - October 31, 2009
Qiu Anxiong is one of the most outstanding Chinese artists of his generation. The gallery is hosting Qiu Anxiong’s first solo exhibition in Germany, featuring the animated film, The Temptation of the Land, made in 2009, along with the acrylic paintings that form the basis for this film.
Qiu Anxiong is known for his animated films, which are inspired by historic visual sources and make conscious references to classic Chinese ink painting. The transposition of traditional elements into a contemporary context is the most special feature of his works. Six years of study in Germany, at the Kunsthochschule Kassel, altered Qiu Anxiong’s view of China and led him to begin an exploration of his Chinese identity. He began an intensive study of Chinese mythology and philosophy, and of the teachings of the Tao, Buddhism, and Confucianism. His animated film, New Book of Mountains and Seas, garnered awards from around the world and is an exemplary approach to classic Chinese materials and their usage in a contemporary setting.
Looking for sources for his new film, The Temptation of the Land, Qiu Anxiong turned to the Companion, an illustrated magazine similar to the American magazine Life; the Companion is published in Shanghai and has enjoyed wide circulation since 1926. The themes of its articles range from the politically and socially controversial to the popular. The artist has appropriated a selection of images that illustrates the rapid transformation of China, starting with the foundation of the Republic of China in 1911, after the end of the Qing Dynasty. In particular, Qiu Anxiong raises the level of awareness that a sense of history has been lost, and that Chinese society has become less conscious of its own cultural roots.
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