Peng Jian 彭劍
Early Years
Peng Jian was born in Yueyang, Hunan Province in 1982. He graduated with an MFA from China Academy of Art at Hangzhou in 2013, where he still works and lives.
The Line of jiehua
Peng Jian’s paintings are bold in colour, and angular in line, channelling the force of the ancient Chinese architectural discipline of jiehua. The artist harnesses the ruler tools that were used to bring buildings to life in imperial times.
His paintings are complex and yet simple, historically inspired, yet deeply modern. They are tangentially influenced by the artist’s exposure to the works of Piet Mondrian and Kazimir Malevich whilst at university. His style therefore also reflects the invisible thread which links geometric abstraction of the turn of the 20th Century to today. In the words of prominent artist Xu Lei: “Geometric Absraction is the most characteristic expression of modern art... Peng’s works echo the revival of such a style in contemporary art.”
Noting his academic background in Hangzhou and these paradoxes, international art critic, Barbara Pollack remarks: “Peng Jian manages to harmonize several different strains of art within his paintings because he is thoroughly educated in the history of each of his influences.”
Objects as Symbols
Peng Jian’s paintings rejoice in the angularity of books, and Rubik’s Cubes. The paintings are open to manifold interpretations: the cube may be seen, less as a symbol of the 1980s when Peng was born, and more as the visual embodiment of the ordered grid with bold colours in unexpected combinations, controlled and yet somehow unpredictable. Wear and tear on the books may reflect the randomness that creeps into the most ordered of settings, and also how age and experience complement and realize the role of theoretical learning.
In the artist’s words: "I define different objects in a limited space. I do so not just to depict a specific image, but by harnessing symbolism, I wish to express the hidden, profound meaning."
Perspectives
Earlier works, such as 2013’s Empty Room, depict the meeting point of grid and home. Here, the interior view of the artist’s home appears in the foreground, before meeting a fantasy landscape of Hangzhou behind the window. The window may be seen as the border between the artist’s life and his artistic life. Characteristically, the view of the city, whilst imagined, is not outlandish but ordered, controlled and angular: the channels of imagination.
Peng Jian’s paintings often create a dizzying effect, born out of the contradictory and yet simultaneous application of western and Chinese perspectives, where the viewer is forced to look into the painting from a traditionally Chinese 45 degree vantage point and then shift into a more naturalistic viewpoint as objects collide into their backgrounds.
Exhibitions
In 2013, he held his first solo exhibition Through the Windows at Galerie Ora-Ora, Hong Kong. In 2017, he held a solo exhibition at the Liang Yi Museum (Organized by Galerie Ora-Ora) in Hong Kong, entitled Ten Miles Away. Peng has also exhibited at international art fairs including Art15, London in 2015, Ink Asia 2018 in Hong Kong, Art Basel Hong Kong 2017-2019. His works are collected by the Today Art Museum and the Liu Haisu Art Museum.
Development
In 2019, Peng Jian’s new painting Harmony depicts those colorful "puzzles", "building blocks" and "Rubik's cubes” are described as metaphors, which triggered a reverse thinking in a reality that is too deliberately complicated. Peng Jian combins the Minimist aesthetic elements with traditional Chinese painting skill together which brings a physical relationship upto a philosophical level.
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Hard Edge
24 Sep - 24 Oct 2020Ora-Ora is pleased to present Hard Edge, an exhibition of works by Hangzhou-based artist Peng Jian. On view from September 24 through October 24, the exhibition features 11 still-life works...Read more -
Harmony
27 May - 6 Jul 2019Galerie Ora-Ora is delighted to present Hangzhou-based artist Peng Jian’s solo exhibition Harmony with the opening reception to be held from 6 pm to 8 pm on May 28 (Tuesday)....Read more -
Art Basel Hong Kong 2019
A.I. - Abstract Intelligence 27 - 31 Mar 2019What is A.I.? Firstly, we may think of artifical intelligence; that calculating rationality of machines, often a cinematic cue for scenes of dystopian badlands, seething with robots, relentlessly grinding humanity...Read more -
16.52 Sqm Open Sea
23 Nov 2018 - 5 Jan 2019Art in the contemporary world is no longer divided by geographical boundaries, yet, the significance of the ocean remains unaltered. More often, the ocean is not depicted as literal and...Read more -
INK ASIA 2018
28 Sep - 2 Oct 2018Private Preview | Friday, 28 September, 2018 from 4:00-6:00PM Vernissage | Friday, 28 September, 2018 from 6:00-9:00PM General Opening Hours | Saturday 29 September, 2018 from 11:00AM-7:00PM Sunday 30 September,...Read more -
Screaming Books
1 - 17 Mar 2018Galerie Ora-Ora’s opening show asserts the universality of art, and its role as a standard bearer for unbarriered, unfettered expression and understanding. Where words belong to language silos, imbued with...Read more -
INK ASIA 2017
15 - 17 Dec 2017At Ink Asia 2017, Galerie Ora-Ora initiates a synesthesia of sculpture and ink. Seeing one, we feel the other. We invite you to experience the meditative balance of Will Clift’s...Read more -
ART021 Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair
8 - 12 Nov 2017Galerie Ora-Ora's show The Invisible Thread forms a landscape of our age: Will Clift's forms emphasize how line and space may become integrated into modern humanity, into our sense of...Read more -
Art Basel Hong Kong 2017
Perceptions 23 - 25 Mar 2017In current society, our perceptions, as a reflection of the soul’s independence are often overlooked and marginalized, whether methodically silenced through self-censorship and peer pressure, or voluntarily surrendered to skin-deep...Read more -
Ten Miles Away - Peng Jian Solo Exhibition
20 - 23 Mar 2017Chinese artist Peng Jian unleashes the angular visual vibrancy of books. Vivid blues, bold greens and searing yellows permeate defamiliarized, immobile, cubic juxtapositions. Coinciding with this year’s Art Basel Hong...Read more -
INK ASIA 2016
15 - 18 Dec 2016Galerie Ora-Ora invites the visitor on a journey of celebration into the rich imaginations of our pioneering contemporary ink artists. Artists committed to actualizing their most modern, vivid dreams through...Read more -
Art Basel Hong Kong 2016
Cha-Na 22 - 26 Mar 2016Cha-Na is the study of the instance, its nature, importance, reflections, iterations and incarnations. Philosophers believe the instance is sacred and has fundamental importance to understanding the existence of the...Read more -
Cha-Na
21 Mar - 23 Apr 2016For this year’s Art Gallery Night, Ora-Ora will present “Cha-Na” as a continuation of our exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong 2016. Cha-Na is the study of the instance, its...Read more -
Winter Sunrise - A Joint Sculpture Exhibition
6 - 23 Nov 2015Each November brings Hong Kong Art Gallery Week, a week-long Arts Festival of Talks, Tours, Studio Visits, circling Art Buses touring the different art districts, Art Lates as well as...Read more -
Art15 London
21 - 23 May 2015Ora-Ora participated at Art15 London from 21-23 May and the show was well received by both local and international audiences. We were delighted to stage the works of renowned Chinese...Read more -
Devotion to Ink Contemporary Ink Show
17 - 19 May 2014With over one thousand years of history, ink art has evolved from traditional ink to create a contemporary aesthetic standard and visual experience. In harmony with Art Basel Hong Kong,...Read more
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Peng Jian – Harmony (solo)
May 28, 2019 -
Harmony by Peng Jian
May 27, 2019 -
Peng Jian : Harmony
May 27, 2019Galerie Ora-Ora is delighted to present Hangzhou-based artist Peng Jian ’s solo exhibition Harmony. In Harmony, Peng's new works are about relationship of dimensions and...Read more -
(Hong Kong Arts Month) The most concentrated art space in Central
March 16, 2018香港01 Once galleries were blooming in the city of Hong Kong, yet, normally with locations rather far away from the crowd. Ever since the inauguration...Read more -
Founder of Galerie Ora-Ora, Henrietta Tsui-Leung: It’s necessary to create a blooming industry for arts; and it’s a pleasure to compete with powerful rivals
March 16, 2018Artron Galerie Ora-Ora is proud to celebrate the opening of their new space in the H Queen’s building in March, where its new art space...Read more -
“Screaming Books”: Galerie Ora-Ora opens new space at H Queen’s, Hong Kong – in conversation with Henrietta Tsui-Leung
March 14, 2018Art Radar Founded by Henrietta Tsui-Leung ten years ago in Hong Kong, Galerie Ora-Ora is a research-based contemporary art gallery specialising in sculpture and works...Read more -
Screaming Books
March 1, 2018TimeOut Galerie Ora-Ora’s inaugural exhibition explores the relationship between art and literature, featuring works including the King of Kowloon. To celebrate the move to their...Read more -
A purpose-built art building bringing the galleries together
March 1, 2018Sing Tao Daily Entering “Hong Kong Arts Month” with the upcoming significant exhibitions and events, lovers and readers for culture and arts have already filled...Read more -
"Screaming Books" – Halley Cheng, Hung Keung, Peng Jian and 5 Additional Artists
March 1, 2018DODOOBA “Screaming Books” inaugurates Galerie Ora-Ora’s new space in the H Queen’s building. This literature-themed group exhibition features eight contemporary Chinese and Hong Kong artists—Halley...Read more -
Galerie Ora-Ora latest show "Screaming Books" at H Queen's
March 1, 2018Artron News Galerie Ora-Ora is proud to celebrate the opening of the new space in the H Queen’s building with an inaugural exhibition that explores...Read more -
Local Talent: 7 Must-See Exhibitions At Hong Kong's Homegrown Galleries
February 20, 2018Hong Kong Tatler There’s more to Hong Kong’s art scene than the celebrated shows at big international galleries. Here’s our pick of upcoming exhibitions at...Read more -
‘Screaming Books’ at Ora-Ora, Hong Kong
February 8, 2018Blouin ArtInfo Galerie Ora-Ora is hosting an exhibition titled “Screaming Books” at its Hong Kong venue. Galerie Ora-Ora’s exhibition “Screaming Books” asserts the universality of...Read more -
The 20 Best Booths at Art Basel in Hong Kong
March 22, 2016Artsy After a stint in the fair's Insights section last year, Ora-Ora graduates to Galleries with a curated exhibition, 'Cha-Na.' Addressing ideas around instantaneousness and...Read more -
Art Big Bang: March
March 11, 2016Hong Kong 01 More than 3 billion years ago, the universe is but a micro singular dot of measureless weight. There is no starry sky,...Read more