Exhibition
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“The Aura River — We Will Eventually Reach the Sea”
—The 2nd Chinese Post-85s Young Artists Group Exhibition
Bluerider ART Shanghai · The Bund
Curatorial Statement
Walter Benjamin, in his seminal essay The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, introduced the concept of Aura — a unique presence of an artwork in time and space that cannot be reproduced. He described Aura as the mystical connection formed between an artwork, its history, its site of creation, and the viewer. It is not just the physicality of the piece, but the historical traces and spatial context that root it in a specific moment, maintaining an irreducible distance that evokes mystery and reverence.
The curatorial vision of The Aura River emerges from this philosophical foundation. In an age overwhelmed by digitization and globalization, this exhibition seeks to recover the essence of Aura that Benjamin once described. The exhibition brings together a group of artists born after 1985 who have grown up in an era shaped by the exponential expansion of digital technology. They have witnessed how the replication and circulation of images has transformed the way art is viewed and valued. With the rise of big data, social media, and instantaneous sharing,artworks can now reach every corner of the globe in a flash — yet their sense of presence has been diluted. And it is precisely within this context that these artists strive to awaken the Aura once dissolved by technology — to capture traces of time, spatial memory, and the inexplicable connection between viewer and work.
In The Aura River, the 27 selected artists from the 2nd Post-85s Open Call respond with diverse expressions —injecting personal memory, social reflection, and historical resonance into their works. In these creations, we can sense the passage of time — a presence that cannot be easily replicated or rapidly disseminated. It is a deep awareness born of temporal immersion, a flickering memory of light and shadow in motion. The Aura of a work is not only in its physical presence, but in the space it inhabits, and in the unique atmosphere formed when viewers engage with it. The Aura River aims to reconstruct this sense of presence, turning the artwork from a passive object of viewing into an immersive field of experience. It becomes a flowing journey through time, space, and distance — an attempt to restore the purity of Aura within our fragmented digital age.
The exhibition features works in Chinese ink, painting, sculpture, and installation. These young artists reinterpret traditional mediums and challenge contemporary realities with sharp observation and personal introspection. Their practices reflect distinct worldviews and visual languages shaped by their individual experiences and collective cultural context. Each artwork is a glimmering point of light adrift on the Aura River — carrying the weight of memory, the stretch of space, and a sacred sense of distance. These flickers of light flow ceaselessly down the river of time, eventually converging in the vast ocean — symbolizing the infinite potential of artistic creation as a path of continual exploration.
As visitors enter the exhibition, they are not merely spectators — they are stepping into a river where time and memory interweave. In the flow of light and shadow, they encounter the irreplaceable Aura that lingers beyond replication. Light flickers. Time flows. We will eventually reach the sea.
“The Aura River — We Will Eventually Reach the Sea”—The 2nd Chinese Post-85s Young Artists：
（Sort by the number of strokes in the Chinese surnames, including year of birth, place of origin, and educational background）
Wang Xiran (b. 2001, Jiangsu) MFA Candidate in Oil Painting, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University
Dai Yinlun (b. 1987, Liaoning) MFA in Chinese Painting, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts
Sun Yihan (b. 2003, Zhejiang) BFA Candidate in Integrated Painting, China Academy of Art
Shen Hongtao (b. 1985, Beijing) BFA in Oil Painting, School of Fine Arts, Minzu University of China
Yang Yang (b. 1988, Zhejiang) MFA in Sculpture, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University
Yang Hong (b. 1988, Hunan) BFA in Chinese Painting, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute
Yang Binghe (b. 1995, Shandong) MFA Candidate in Sculpture, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University
Tom Yang (b. 1995, Zhejiang) MFA in Oil Painting, China Academy of Art
Li Huanyu (b. 1986, Qinghai) BFA in Oil Painting, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts
Li Yichen (b. 1996, Shanghai) MFA in Sculpture, Royal College of Art, UK
Li Liangchen (b. 1997, Beijing) PhD Candidate in Fine Arts and Calligraphy, China Academy of Art
Wu Huaheng (b. 1988, Guangdong) BFA in Fine Arts, College of Fine Arts, Hunan Normal University
Zhang Zhen (b. 1993, Heilongjiang) BFA in Chinese Painting, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University
Zhang Meng (b. 1995, Inner Mongolia) PhD in Fine Arts, Graduate School, Central Academy of Fine Arts
Zhang Kai (b. 2000, Zhejiang) MFA in Contemporary Art, School of Fine Arts, East China Normal University
Chen Haoran (b. 1994, Tianjin) MFA in Oil Painting and Expression, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts
Lu Yujun (b. 1995, Anhui) BFA in Mural Painting, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts
Shi Yuxin (b. 2003, Beijing) BFA Candidate in Sculpture, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University
Shaw (b. 1987, Shaanxi) BFA in Comprehensive Painting, Department of Art Education, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts
Meng Tao (b. 1990, Shandong) MFA in Oil Painting, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts
Zhou Bohua (b. 1992, Shanxi) PhD Candidate in Gongbi Painting, Graduate School, Central Academy of Fine Arts
Zong Qirun (b. 2001, Henan) MFA Candidate in Landscape Painting, School of Chinese Painting, China Academy of Art
Ying Yefu (b. 1985, Jiangsu) BFA in Visual Communication Design, China Academy of Art
Cui Wenshu (b. 1994, Liaoning) BFA, Libera Accademia di Belle Arti di Brescia, Italy
Qin Chao (b. 1985, Hubei) MFA in Oil Painting, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts
Zeng Jiajia (b. 1989, Guangdong) MFA in Fine Arts, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University
Yan Rui (b. 1995, Jiangsu) MFA in Visual Communication, Nanjing University of the Arts
“The Aura River — We Will Eventually Reach the Sea” —The 2nd Chinese Post-85s Young Artists Group Exhibition
Press day : August 22, 2025 (Fri) 2pm-5pm
Opening Collectors’ Preview: Aug. 23, 2025 | 2:00–3:30 PM (Invite Only)
Opening Reception: Aug. 23, 2025 | 4:00–6:30 PM (Open to the Public)
(Opening Remarks 4:30 PM)
Exhibition Dates: Aug. 23 – Oct. 19, 2025
Bluerider ART Shanghai · The Bund
133 Sichuan Middle Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, China
Thu.- Sun. 10am-7pm
info.china@blueriderart.com
Artist
Wang Xiran
(Jiangsu, b. 2001)
Wang Xiran (b. 2001, Jiangsu) MFA Candidate, Oil Painting, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University. Based in Kunshan, Suzhou. His work revolves around the blurred and distant images found in everyday life, exploring the delicate balance between reality and emotion through a lens that oscillates between realism and surrealism. In the series Clouds and Moon featured in this exhibition, white clouds and the moon appear within indoor scenes framed by “doors” and “windows.” The calm brushwork and subtle handling of color make time seem to stand still within the composition. This sense of unreality reflects feelings constrained by reason, while hidden emotions appear to be under scrutiny, always poised to break through the painted windows in search of balance and solace. His works have been exhibited at the Shanghai Art Museum, Zhangjiang Contemporary Art Museum, and Nantong Art Museum.
Work
Dai Yinglun
（Liaoning, b.1987）
Dai Yinlun (b. 1987, Liaoning) MFA in Chinese Painting, Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Shanghai. His work centers on the observation and depiction of “crowds.” Through the recombination of real environments, objects, and human behaviors, his compositions evolve from the depiction of individual figures to complex crowd arrangements, creating seemingly absurd behavioral systems. This approach reflects how, in real life, individuals possess unique personalities, yet when gathered into groups, they resemble “fractals,” developing hierarchies and structures that highlight the blind conformity of collective consciousness as well as the isolation and logical gaps of the individual. His works have been exhibited at the Xi’an Contemporary Art Museum and Shanghai Meibo Art Museum, and he was shortlisted for the John Moores Painting Prize.
Work
Sun Yihan
（Zhejiang, b. 2003）
Sun Yihan (b. 2003, Zhejiang) BFA Candidate, Integrated Painting, China Academy of Art. Based in Hangzhou. He captures the traces of time embedded in architectural structures, framing the depicted humans and animals within wooden panels, much like a timeline recorded on walls. This allows a reflective observation of oneself across extended time and space, maintaining a sense of distance without becoming engulfed or distracted. The fragmented depiction of figures alongside animals evokes the individual stepping outside of the self to witness the wild freedom buried deep in the subconscious. Through these fragmented images and associations, viewers glimpse repressed emotions within constrained spaces, bringing them to light and release. His works have been exhibited at Qiantang Bay Art Museum.
Work
Shen Hongtao
（Beijing, b.1985）
Shen Hongtao (b. 1985, Beijing) BFA, Oil Painting, School of Fine Arts, Minzu University of China. Based in Beijing. His work revolves around scenes that transcend the real world. Through vivid colors, flowing lines, and dynamic forms, he creates surreal compositions that evoke associations with life, nature, and subconscious fantasies. Figures and objects are placed in fantastical, fragmented spaces, where distorted shapes and floating elements break the logic of reality, guiding viewers into a subjectively constructed world. This encourages imagination and creativity, allowing exploration of the deeper spirituality beneath appearances, and prompting reflection on life, nature, and the universe. His works have been exhibited at Zheng Art Museum in Hangzhou and Xinghe Art Museum in Songzhuang, Beijing.
Work
Yang Yang
(Zhejiang, b.1988)
Yang Yang (b. 1988, Zhejiang) MFA in Sculpture, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Based in Shanghai. His sculptural practice explores the body as an object, reflecting on rhythm, harmony of form, the tactile warmth or coldness of material, and the spatial essence of sculpture. Working primarily with glazed ceramics and white porcelain—materials at once rigid and fragile—he creates shell-like vessels that embody a tender yet steadfast core. These works hold layered emotional dimensions: quiet, soft, and understated. Though without explicit narrative, they cast shadows of both self and others, opening a subtle and profound inner world within the framework of figurative sculpture. His works have been exhibited at Zhengzhou Sculpture Park and the China Sculpture Museum.
Work
Yang Hong
(Hunan，b.1988)
Yang Hong (b. 1988, Hunan) BFA in Chinese Painting, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Based in Beijing. His work is inspired by the Song Dynasty painting “Travelers Among Streams and Mountains” , in which flowing water symbolizes not only the journey forward but also the spatial transformations over time. Using traditional Chinese painting techniques, he captures contemporary urban scenes. In the series “ Miscellaneous Album” featured in this exhibition, the figures, events, and objects reflect the present era while the background details retain elements of traditional aesthetics. His paintings act as a bridge between local landscapes and historical cultural contexts, subtly prompting viewers to reconsider and observe their surroundings from different perspectives. His works have been exhibited at Pingshan Art Museum, Jiangsu Art Museum, and Guan Shanyue Art Museum.
Work
Yang Binghe
(Shandong，b.1995)
Yang Binghe (b. 1995, Shandong) MFA Candidate in Sculpture, Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University. Based in Shanghai. His work focuses on materials commonly found or encountered in everyday life. Through assembly and arrangement, objects are intuitively and non-directionally layered, exploring the relationships between objects, between objects and people, and between objects and the environment. The combinations of materials are neither symbolic nor decorative; their interweaving and overlapping create a unique sensory experience. In his practice, he deliberately avoids explicit interpretive paths, aiming to evoke unnamed fluctuations within the subconscious at the moment of material collision. Through these almost primal interactions, he expresses his perceptions of surrounding life. His works have been exhibited at the China Art Museum and the Shanghai Haipai Art Museum.
Work
Tom Yang
(Zhejiang，b.1995)
Yang Tiejun (b. 1995, Zhejiang) MFA in Oil Painting, China Academy of Art. Full-time faculty at Chengdu Academy of Fine Arts, Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Based in Chengdu. His work focuses on the “city” he lives in and the “people” around him. Approaching his subjects from the perspective of witnessing urban development and through personal observation, he draws on compositional strategies and viewpoints from both Chinese and Western classical painting. He seeks to capture the transformations of the city and the states of its inhabitants. While his style is realist, the use of grayscale tones emphasizes the inner spirit and the life relationships between the figures and their surrounding environment. The sense of temporality and the emotional states of the subjects resonate within the paintings. His works have been exhibited at Jiangsu Art Museum, Zhejiang Art Museum, and Ningbo Art Museum.
Work
Lee Huanyu
(Qinghai，b.1986)
Li Huanyu (b. 1986, Qinghai) BFA in Oil Painting, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Xi’an. His artistic practice is rooted in a critical reflection on the Symbolic Order. People are often constrained by established symbols in daily life, forming unconscious patterns of domination. By breaking the logical frameworks of images and introducing randomness in color, he seeks to transcend these linguistic and conceptual constraints. Within the tension of “control and loss of control,” he explores a visually comprehensible balance. In the work “Neither Harmony nor Disharmony” (“Fei He He Fei Bu He He”) exhibited in this show, inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist painting “Four Auspicious Symbols of Harmony” (“He He Si Rui Tu”), seemingly absurd characters are integrated within chaotic patterns structured into orderly forms, creating an uncanny yet rationalized organic architecture.
Work
Li Yichen
（Shanghai，b.1996）
Li Yichen (b. 1996, Shanghai) MFA in Sculpture, Royal College of Art. Based in Shanghai. She explores the reconstruction and development of traditional culture within a contemporary art context through wood sculpture. Her “Screens” act as an extension of the body in space—originally a barrier separating the child from the outside world, yet the carved openings allow communication and interaction. She embeds symbols of traditional culture into the wooden screens, serving as anchor points that awaken traditional consciousness and explore the past while presenting the present and future. In today’s digital and fragmented era, her works offer a sanctuary for traditional cultural identity. Her works have been exhibited at X Museum in Shanghai and the Freud Museum in the UK, and are included in the LVMH Collection.
Work
Li Liangchen
(Beijing, b1997)
Li Liangchen (b. 1997, Beijing) PhD Candidate in Fine Arts and Calligraphy, China Academy of Art. Based in Beijing. As a post-90s artist bridging traditional paper-based media and the digital age, Li Liangchen seeks to embed contemporary emotions and reflections within the classical framework of silk and mineral pigments. Drawing on the ancient tradition of blue-and-green landscape painting, he uses color and composition to express human alienation and longing in the digital era. Through the “blue-and-green” filter, he reexamines his relationship with nature, tradition, and a rapidly changing world. His works have been exhibited at Today Art Museum, National Art Museum of China, and He Art Museum, and are included in the collections of Beijing Shu Art Museum and the China Art Museum Association.
Work
Wu Huaheng
（Guangdong，b.1988）
Wu Huaheng (b. 1988, Guangdong) BFA in Fine Arts, College of Fine Arts, Hunan Normal University. Based in Beijing. Working primarily in ink, Wu Huaheng explores how traditional Chinese ink can be transformed within a contemporary context. He states, “Because I fear death, and of course I also fear darkness, I wanted to explore and engage in a possible dialogue with black.” Ink thus becomes his most direct medium for experimentation—its physical properties, technical expressions, and cultural implications all serve as tools in his exploration. Through his creative process, he examines his fears within the context of black, initiating a dialogue and reflecting on the world around him. His works have been exhibited at Yancheng Art Museum and V-Art Museum.
Work
Zhang Zhen
（Heilongjiang，b.1993）
Zhang Zhen (b. 1993, Heilongjiang) BFA in Chinese Painting, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Based in Changsha. He seeks to explore “relationality” in his painting practice, avoiding the straightforward transmission of either figurative or conceptual messages that can lead to a loss in creative depth. By connecting subjective personal expression, the objective qualities of the medium, and narrative elements, his works become independent hybrids. In this process, images and language are redistributed—not dictated by the artist’s intention, but by the natural growth mechanisms of painting itself. This approach generates a visual and emotional rhythm characterized by multiplicity and synthesis. His works have been exhibited at Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, and Daoli Art Museum.
Work
Zhang Meng
（Inner Mongolia，b.1995）
Zhang Meng (b. 1995, Inner Mongolia) PhD in Fine Arts, Graduate School, Central Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Beijing. She has studied traditional Chinese landscape painting since childhood and maintains a deep emotional connection to natural scenery. By observing moss, stones, and other minute textures on walls, she finds endless inspiration in their subtle details. Changes in environment have also influenced the evolution of her style. In her recent series “Jing·Jing” (“Environment and Scenery”), she moves beyond the abstract textures of natural landscapes, seeking to capture the most immediate emotional flows from people, events, and objects encountered in everyday life. Her works have been exhibited at Today Art Museum, the Grand Palais in Paris, and in Italy.
Work
Zhang Kai
（Zhejiang，b.2000）
Zhang Kai (b. 2000, Zhejiang) MFA in Contemporary Art, East China Normal University. Based in Shanghai. Lines are the core element of his art. By using lines as a symbolic language, he creates a “world of lines” in which he can deconstruct and reconstruct figures and objects. Through the overlapping and intersecting of lines, his paintings generate infinite possibilities. Images from everyday life and decisive moments captured in photographs serve as the fundamental sources for his compositions. Whether depicting enduring stillness or fleeting instants, he conveys them through diverse brushwork, constructing a new visual language system within contemporary art. His works have been exhibited at Jiushi Art Museum, Shanghai, and Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art, Japan.
Work
Chen Haoran
（Tianjin，b.1994）
Chen Haoran (b. 1994, Tianjin) MFA in Oil Painting and Expression, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Tianjin and Beijing. He focuses on figures, animals, and plants in his paintings, using found images as a medium and employing techniques such as collage, monochromatic compositions, and identity substitution. Centered on the theme of “states of existence,” his works construct absurd yet mysterious scenes. Plants in his paintings symbolize the psychological pressures faced by contemporary people, while placing figures in dim and unfamiliar environments creates an atmosphere of mystery and absurdity. The works reflect young people’s exploration amid confusion, struggles in adversity, and entanglements in emotions, using metaphorical approaches to address social and developmental issues. His works have been exhibited at Tianjin Art Museum, Mingyuan Art Museum in Shanghai, and Qingdao Art Museum.
Work
Lu Yujun
（Anhui，b.1995）
Lu Yujun (b. 1995, Anhui) BFA in Mural Painting, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Xuancheng, Anhui. Human desires and the most primal aspects of human nature deeply move him and drive his artistic practice. In the face of increasing life pressures and an uncertain future, he seeks a form of spirituality through the complex depiction of figures, reflecting contradictions, absurdities, and awkwardness in reality by portraying the most primitive human desires. His works feature vivid colors, grotesque imagery, and a violent, blood-charged atmosphere, highlighting the unpredictability of society and the complexity of human nature. Through these stark depictions, he aims to express profound concern and dissatisfaction with contemporary social realities. His works have been exhibited at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Museum and Ye Art Museum.
Work
Shi Yuxin
（Beijing，b.2003）
Shi Yuxin (b. 2003, Beijing) BFA Candidate in Sculpture, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Based in Beijing. She often uses the characteristics of her chosen materials to embody time. Inspired by German philosopher Walter Benjamin’s idea that life’s eternity exists in “halted dialectical moments,” Shi Yuxin reflects on the fleeting nature of individual life as a single, disappearing point in history. Using durable marble, she attempts to capture and preserve the fragility of life. Her sculptures feature light, curved lines that nevertheless convey a sense of weight, with these contrasting qualities symbolizing the human condition. When viewers pause before her works, they bestow a sense of enduring life upon the stone within memory. Her works have been exhibited at Arshan Land Art Festival, Tsinghua University, and the Sculpture Department Exchange Exhibition, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts.
Work
Shaw
（Shaanxi，b.1987）
Shaw (b. 1987, Shaanxi) BFA in Integrated Painting, Department of Art Education, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Xi’an. His works center on mechanical installations, each functioning as a miniature “partial universe.” While presenting a spectacle of life, they also probe ecological ethics and the scale of the cosmos. In the exhibited work "Harmonic", as the flowing sand falls with each mechanical rotation, the randomly created traces resemble microscopic quantum fluctuations, while on a cosmic scale, the motion of planetary-like elements plays an eternal polyphony. Within these cyclic overtones, each moment of life—sometimes repetitive, sometimes unexpected—is manifested. His works have been exhibited at Times Museum, Beijing.
Work
Meng Tao
（Shandong，b.1990）
Meng Tao (b. 1990, Shandong) MFA in Oil Painting, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Kunshan, Jiangsu. His artistic journey began with childhood doodles, rooted in self-expression. He finds inspiration in nature—mountains, rivers, plants, and animals—even the intricate bodies of insects carry immense energy, lively and striking. In his creative process, the beauty of all living things allows him to escape worldly distractions, embracing a sense of primal freedom. He paints what he loves, fully expressing his personal feelings, experiencing a state of unrestrained immersion. While he has considered reflecting on social realities, these pure and natural elements often bring inner tranquility. His works have been exhibited at Pudong New Area Culture and Art Center, Shanghai, and Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts Museum.
Work
Zhou Bohua
（Shanxi，b.1992）
Zhou Bohua (b. 1992, Shanxi) PhD Candidate in Gongbi Painting, Graduate School, Central Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Tianjin. His paintings reflect his observations and contemplations of the world. He believes that what moves people is the intuitive response, a rational engagement with the world, and the creation of the composition through strict logical steps. Mountains, clouds, and flowing water coexist in his works, evoking a sense of silence and distance. The blocks of color and form, interwoven through careful composition, not only convey spatial depth but also express the emotions he seeks to communicate. In his creative process, a calm and focused state of mind is ultimately manifested on the canvas; even when the imagery is intense, it remains serene, retaining both rationality and strength. His works have been exhibited at Weihai Art Museum and Jiangsu Modern Art Museum.
Work
Zong Qirun
（Henan，b.2001）
Zong Qirun (b. 2001, Henan) MFA Candidate, Landscape Painting, School of Chinese Painting, China Academy of Art. Based in Hangzhou. Having studied traditional Chinese culture since childhood, he grew up in a globally digitized era exposed to diverse cultural influences. He focuses on investing his own feelings and experiences into landscape painting, rather than merely copying external forms. Observing mountains as mountains, he seeks to depict the ideal “lying tour” (“woyou”) landscape—a realm that is “viewable, observable, wanderable, and habitable”—from a personal perspective. From the macro to the micro, he experiences the changes of nature in his creative process, reflecting on himself and aiming for a state of tranquility in landscapes, transcending the trivialities of daily life. His works have been exhibited at Jinan Art Museum and Zhejiang Exhibition Hall.
Work
Ying Yefu
（Jiangsu，b.1985）
Ying Yefu (b. 1985, Jiangsu) BFA in Visual Communication Design, China Academy of Art. Based in Xianyang. Having painted since childhood, he draws inspiration from early memories, with these profound personal experiences permeating his artistic expression. Using delicate brushwork on Xuan paper, he merges rich elements of Chinese culture with contemporary aesthetics to create a series of thought-provoking compositions. Children, young girls, and kung fu masters are placed in fantastical and dramatic settings, seemingly bizarre yet strikingly resonant. His work bridges nostalgia and the surreal, evoking both confusion and empathy in viewers. Exhibitions include Shanghai Contemporary Art Museum and MoCA Shanghai.
Work
Cui Wenshu
（Liaoning，b.1994）
Cui Wenshu (b. 1994, Liaoning) BFA, Accademia Libera di Brescia, Italy. Based in Beijing. Her work revolves around childhood memories and people around her. In the exhibited series “Frightful Dreams”, the shadow of curtains swaying at night during her childhood—like little monsters—spread into every corner of her life, creating fear and a lack of security. As she grew older, witnessing her sister’s attentive care for children contrasted sharply with her own experience of a mother’s absence. In this context, the octopus, as seen in the Cthulhu myth, simultaneously embodies fear and maternal presence. She incorporates octopus tentacles in various forms into her paintings, expressing the subconscious imprint of both desire for maternal love and lingering fear. Her works have been exhibited at Liubai Art Museum and Mumu Museum.
Work
Qin Chao
（Hubei，b.1985）
Qin Chao (b. 1985, Hubei) MFA in Oil Painting, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. Faculty, Department of Figurative Arts, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts. Based in Xi’an. In recent years, his work has focused on site-specific constructions of figures. He is drawn to capturing the subtle shifts in personal identity that occur across different contexts, exploring the social and character-driven dynamics of individuals. In the exhibited work “Vanishing Childhood”, he reflects on how early exposure to digital information might erode children’s innocence, constructing the overall narrative through an interplay of figurative and abstract visual elements. His works have been exhibited at the China Art Museum in Shanghai, Suzhou Museum of Art, and the Kommunale Museum in Germany.
Work
Zeng Jiajia
（Guangdong，b.1989）
Zeng Jiajia (b. 1989, Guangdong) MFA, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. Faculty, Changxin International Art Academy, Yunnan University. Based in Kunming. She explores the subtle resonance between nature, time, and emotion through the granularity and permanence of mineral pigments, infused with Eastern philosophical thought. Influenced by Chinese mural painting and the Japanese aesthetic of mono no aware, she deliberately preserves the rough texture of pigments, using pure colors, shapes, and reflective materials to symbolize untainted purity, while geometric compositions hint at societal constraints. These metaphors serve as warnings of ecological trauma, revealing new aesthetics within “decay”—like minerals eternally cycling between destruction and rebirth—reflecting her investigation of the tension between the primitive and the modern. Her works have been exhibited at Today Art Museum in Beijing and the International Art City in Paris.
Work
Yanrui
（Jiangsu，b.1995）
Yan Rui (b. 1995, Jiangsu) MFA in Visual Communication, Nanjing University of the Arts. Based in Shanghai and Nanjing. Her practice focuses on the development and application of traditional plant-based dyeing in contemporary art. Fascinated as a child by the effect of inked rice paper in rainwater and the diffusion of blue pen ink in clear water, she was naturally drawn to the changing colors and scents of plant dyes over time. Her works are often inspired by everyday life and natural phenomena, capturing fleeting moments in nature and exploring the interactions between plant dye, various media, and human activity. Her works have been exhibited at Deji Art Museum and Luo Zhongli Art Museum, and are in the collection of Sichuan Art Museum.
