張文智

Zhang Wenzhi (b. 1993, Dalian, China) creates collagesque ink paintings which interweave Chinese modern history, folklore, popular science, and archival materials. Using his hometown as an entry point, Zhang spotlights the convoluted history of Northeast China, particularly the period dating in the late Qing Dynasty, delineating the repercussions of the past in the present. The region was once exploited by various colonial powers before undergoing rapid urbanization, leaving it in a collective state of amnesia. Zhang depicts spirit animals and mythological creatures, including the Deer god, pointing to the prominence of shamanism in Northeast China. They become metaphoric of life and prosperity in a place once subjected to trauma and constant shifts in power. In Zhang’s paintings, these auspicious creatures are juxtaposed against a vast landscape where historical and mythological motifs are nestled within industrial infrastructures; they bear witness to the region’s ever-unfolding changes and complex historical tapestry. Zhang currently lives and works in Beijing.

資料來源：Blindspot Gallery