【Art Fair】“Cao Jigang: Beyond the Gaze” Solo Exhibition at Westbund Art & Design Fair #Booth B132

Exhibition

Exhibition Video

Installation View

【Art Fair】“Cao Jigang: Beyond the Gaze” Solo Exhibition
2024 Westbund Art & Design Art Fair
2024.11.7 – 11.10
Booth B132

Collector Preview
11.7 Thu. 13:00-19:00
11.8 Fri. 12:00-13:00

Public Day
11.8 Fri. 13:00-18:00
11.9 Sat. 12:00-18:00
11.10 Sun. 12:00-18:00

Venue
West Bund Artistic Center B Building Booth B132

Bluerider ART
【Art Fair】“Cao Jigang: Beyond the Gaze” Solo Exhibition
2024 Westbund Art & Design Art Fair Booth B132

At the 2024 Westbund Art & Design Fair, Bluerider ART is proud to present Beyond the Gaze, a solo exhibition by Chinese artist Cao Jigang. This exhibition delves into the philosophical inquiry of “the visible and the invisible,” challenging the viewer’s reliance on sight to reveal the intangible forces and profound perceptions beyond our line of vision.

Cao Jigang’s work embodies a secluded, contemplative style, capturing invisible forces with a unique blend of tempera techniques and varied materials. His creations go beyond mere depictions of natural landscapes. By using multi-layered glazing and a meticulous brushwork approach, Cao’s work transforms invisible natural elements—mountains, shadows, open spaces—into minimalistic forms. Unlike traditional Chinese landscape’s “passive blankness,” his method employs an “active blankness,” expressing hidden spirituality beneath the surface. His art is not only a representation of nature but a dialogue with it, where landscapes transcend their physical presence to become vessels of emotion, memory, time, and spirituality. Through refined techniques, he brings the unseen forces of nature into view, offering a contemplative space for moments that often go unnoticed.

In Beyond the Gaze, Cao Jigang expands his practice by introducing works on new materials, such as watercolor and collage, further exploring the aesthetics of seclusion. His pieces capture the light, breath, and warmth of nature with a jade-like luster that invites viewers into a spiritual realm beyond the material. Seemingly silent, the layers in his works convey profound emotions and perceptive influence. His new pieces, Spring Begins and Skimming Over the Ridge, use mountain and sky movements as emotional symbols, representing internal explorations rather than static landscapes. In Veil of Light, a partially detailed mountain scene in tempera evokes the delicate glow of Chinese celadon and porcelain, with subtle tones guiding the viewer’s gaze through the landscape’s ebb and flow. This invites the audience to experience the serenity and poetry within the unseen world, a chance to rediscover one’s inner landscape through nature.

Beyond the Gaze is not only about “seeing” but also about experiencing the unseen. Cao Jigang’s work challenges our reliance on sight, encouraging us to go beyond perceptual limits and delve into the profound interconnections between nature, emotion, and spirituality. His work reveals that what is most significant might be what we cannot see, as invisible forces often leave the most lasting impact.

Highlight Works