View of “Zhan Wang: Objects of Idea”, 2020, Long March Space, Beijing (Left: Concealed Rock No.2)
In the series of “Concealed Rock”, Zhan Wang uses transparent acrylic to create a polished transparent stone, and then have it encased in the same material. Since it is hand-crafted, only under subtle lighting can one see the original rock that is trapped inside the form. The artist reveals that there are negative spaces in the world and suggests a certain fleeting, fragile aesthetic of things that fade into a transparent state. Natural stones or artificial stones both come from the reconcretion of natural forms. The energy of matter or the material and substance of this kind hereby releases again. “Form” is reconfigured, indicating the infinite possibilities of its state of being and non-being.
“Everything has its form in the world, or its exists in the form of form. For form, its existence does not rely on how you think about it, like one cannot reduce his desire. Loss, silence, seclusion, quiescence and intangibility would not utterly destroy the existence of form. Everything that exists is forced into the open and shows its true.”
—Zhan Wang
View of Concealed Rock No.3, 2020, Long March Space, Beijing
Speaking of the transparent material such as resin that is often used by contemporary artists, Su Hang ART puts forward some philosophical thinking on Zhan Wang’s “Concealed Rock”:
“What Zhan Wang creates is not something invisible. On the contrary, he rather reveals what is there in the world, and what is concealed by people’s vulgar ideas. Those matters actually have great potential…When thinking about this work, I suddenly realize that Albert Camus once wrote about the same thing, ‘for five days rain had been falling ceaselessly on Algiers and had finally wet the sea itself.’ Nobody can see the sea getting wet, but Zhan Wang has made a unique, mysterious and divinely wonderful expression. Two things that shouldn’t exist are now being found in art and poetry, and two substances that should be merged into one are now being distinguished.”
—Su Hang ART
View of “Zhan Wang: Objects of Idea”, 2020, Long March Space, Beijing (Left: Concealed Rock No.2)
In the series of “Concealed Rock”, Zhan Wang uses transparent acrylic to create a polished transparent stone, and then have it encased in the same material. Since it is hand-crafted, only under subtle lighting can one see the original rock that is trapped inside the form. The artist reveals that there are negative spaces in the world and suggests a certain fleeting, fragile aesthetic of things that fade into a transparent state. Natural stones or artificial stones both come from the reconcretion of natural forms. The energy of matter or the material and substance of this kind hereby releases again. “Form” is reconfigured, indicating the infinite possibilities of its state of being and non-being.
“Everything has its form in the world, or its exists in the form of form. For form, its existence does not rely on how you think about it, like one cannot reduce his desire. Loss, silence, seclusion, quiescence and intangibility would not utterly destroy the existence of form. Everything that exists is forced into the open and shows its true.”
—Zhan Wang
Speaking of the transparent material such as resin that is often used by contemporary artists, Su Hang ART puts forward some philosophical thinking on Zhan Wang’s “Concealed Rock”:
“What Zhan Wang creates is not something invisible. On the contrary, he rather reveals what is there in the world, and what is concealed by people’s vulgar ideas. Those matters actually have great potential…When thinking about this work, I suddenly realize that Albert Camus once wrote about the same thing, ‘for five days rain had been falling ceaselessly on Algiers and had finally wet the sea itself.’ Nobody can see the sea getting wet, but Zhan Wang has made a unique, mysterious and divinely wonderful expression. Two things that shouldn’t exist are now being found in art and poetry, and two substances that should be merged into one are now being distinguished.”
—Su Hang ART
