“The ocean and the sky are both blue, a color that symbolizes endless possibilities and inspires us to explore the mysteries of life.”
This is a description of the theme of Heiyue (Black Moon) Ji Shengli’s solo art exhibition, “Life in Blue,” which opened on September 6.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition at Nancy’s Gallery in Shanghai, the gallery director Nancy Lee talked about how the color blue can inspire people to explore life’s mysteries. The exhibition featured Heiyue’s “Untitled” series, where he seeks to capture the sanctity, energy, prosperity, and hope in life through his affirmative paintings in International Klein Blue and art installations in royal blue.
Heiyue Ji Shengli was born and raised in Qinghai. In 1993, he joined the Yuanmingyuan artist colony, which marked the beginning of his artistic journey. From 2000 to 2012, Shengli worked on various artistic projects in Kobe, Oban, New York, and Beijing. One of his most notable works, “Buttocks 123 by Hei Yue,” playfully and provocatively challenges viewers to reflect on self-discipline. Hei Yue’s artistic repertoire also includes pieces such as “The Lookout,” “Untitled” (2018) featuring a clenched baby fist, and “What is Art? It’s About the People! – Hei Yue’s Art in Close-Up at Jingdezhen,” among others.
This exhibition features artwork in the shade of International Klein Blue, including landscapes, bamboo, and orchids painted with carborundum, canvas, and acrylic. The art pieces also incorporate elements such as ceramics, iron pins, discarded televisions, tin, and rotten wood.
In his introduction, curator and art critic Dr. Zha Changping mentioned that most of the artworks on display were created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two landscape paintings titled “Untitled” were created in 2021. These paintings have a plenty of empty space above the dynamic flowing "golden blue", giving viewers a sense of infinite brightness. It is a gentle yet strong feeling, both subjective and objective at the same time.
Zhang Xi, the founder of the Modern Art Museum Shanghai, praised Heiyue as a truly exceptional artist whose career is always evolving along with his life. After studying art in Qinghai, Heiyue has traveled far and wide to places like Beijing, Japan, New York, Jingdezhen, and Shanghai in search of inspiration. Mr. Zhang said, “Heiyue’s bamboo paintings are like the bones of a seasoned artist, with colors so beautiful they almost feel soft to the touch. However, in reality, these bones have been there since a young age, and what I see more are spines that cannot bend down.”
Professor Zhu Guohua, who holds a joint appointment in the Department of Chinese Language at East China Normal University and the School of International Chinese Studies, shared his thoughts on Hei Yue’s bamboo artwork, “The bamboo resembles bones, giving them a fragile appearance that challenges our traditional view of bamboo. By juxtaposing harmony and disharmony, as well as life and lifeless objects, Heiyue creates a contrast that encourages us viewers to ponder deeper meanings.”
Li Xiaofeng, a professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts and former curator of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, as well as a well-known critic, shared his thoughts on the artwork, “I believe these pieces are somehow connected to the epidemic. During that time of feeling suffocated while stuck at home, we need more vibrant colors to breathe life back into us. Heiyue, through his art, has successfully given us a sense of freedom and fresh air, fulfilling his artistic mission with great responsibility. In the realm of world art history, the color blue has always been associated with nobility, often reserved for figures like the Virgin Mary. It represents rationality, with a touch of solitude and mystery, giving off a feeling of purity. This color also symbolizes a type of freedom, one that is sacred and noble, rather than chaotic and lawless.”
Curator and art critic Dr. Zha Changping shared his experience visiting Heiyue’s studio, “It is quite a spacious place. But despite the sweltering heat a week earlier, Mr. Heiyue said, "I will get an air conditioner when finances allow." It is truly uncommon to see an artist so determined in the face of adversity. In many aspects of our lives, pushing through challenges is crucial, even if persistence does not always guarantee success. That is just a part of life.”
He went on to say, “There is a shade of blue known as International Klein Blue, but how does it differ from the blue of Heiyue? Klein once remarked, ‘When this blue is placed in the ocean, the ocean becomes bluer.’ I am calling Heiyue’s blue 'Heiyue - International Shengli Blue'. If we infuse this blue into the sea of life, our hearts will feel more expansive, deep, and brimmed with hope.”
The exhibition will run for 40 days and end on October 16.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
“蓝色是海洋，是天空，是无限的可能性，它激发我们去探索生命的奥秘。”
这是9月6日开幕的名为“生命蓝”的个人艺术展对主题的说明。
黑月·季胜利个人艺术展《生命蓝》在上海南希画廊举行开幕式。南希画廊主理人南希以蓝色入手解释了它对激发我们去探索生命奥秘的宗旨。本次展览的展品是艺术家黑月的《无题》系列，他通过肯定性的克莱因蓝色绘画和宝蓝色的空间装置作品传递圣洁、灵动、昌盛和盼望的生命力量。
艺术家黑月·季胜利出生、成长于青海，1993年进圆明园从事艺术活动。 2000至2012年，他主要在神户、大板、纽约、北京等地进行创作，其作品《屁股123》激发观众在幽默泼皮中对自我规训的反思，此外还有《望》、以“婴儿拳头”的《无题》（2018）和《“什么艺术，就是人！”——黑月景德镇艺术创作近览》等作品。
本次艺术展主要以克莱因蓝为主要色调。画作的内容包含蓝色山水、竹子和兰花，其制作材料主要是金刚砂、布面和丙烯。艺术展品还融入了陶瓷与铁针、废弃电视机、铁皮、腐朽的木头等元素。
策展人艺术批评家查常平博士介绍说，这些作品大部分诞生在新冠疫情期间，其中2021年创作的两张山水《无题》中，大量的留白依然静静地安息在流淌的“金蓝色”上面，带给观众无限光明的安慰，柔和而坚韧，主观又客观。
艺仓美术馆创始人张熹在致辞说，黑月是很特别的艺术家，他的艺术生涯在经历不断的移动，黑月在青海完成了艺术教育后，他先后去了北京、日本、纽约、景德镇和上海，他一直在寻找自己的远方，因为这个是他创造的动力。张先生说：“我觉得黑月画的竹子就是老艺术家的骨头，颜色很漂亮，似乎开始温柔。实际这一根根骨头的存在是年轻的时候就有的，我更多看到的是我们今天不能够压弯的脊梁是什么”。
“黑月画的竹子有点像是骨头，我觉得这个骨头看上去是有一点脆弱的，实际上完全改写了我们对于竹子的传统认识。他把和谐与不和谐、有生命的与无生命的组合在一起，构成强烈的反差，让我们有更多的思考。” 华东师大中文系、国际汉语文化学院联聘教授朱国华则这样评价说。
上海美术学院教授、原上海美术学院美术馆馆长、著名批评家李晓峰说：“这些作品我觉得跟疫情有一定的关系。在那个期间，我们闷在家里的窒息感，我们多需要这样的颜色给我们氧气，我们想要呼吸和自由。艺术家黑月完成了他的使命、胜任了这份责任，他把自由和这份充沛的氧气分享给我们。蓝色在世界艺术史上是高贵的颜色，是只能穿在圣母身上的颜色。这是理智的蓝，可能有孤独和神秘，让人感受到珍贵的洁净。这个蓝是自由的后缀，但不是胡作非为的自由，而是神圣和高贵的自由”。
策展人、 艺术批评家查常平博士说：“我曾参观过黑月老师的工作室，他在很大的工作室工作。在一周多前，天气很热。黑月老师说’等我有钱了，我买一个空调。’ 艺术家在这样的情况下坚持很难得。在我们人生的很多方面，最可贵的就是不论什么情况下，一定要坚持下去。可能坚持没有结果，但是人生就是这样”。
他继续说：“有一种蓝是国际克莱因蓝，这与黑月的蓝有什么不同呢？克莱因曾经说过 ‘这个蓝放在大海里面，大海会变得更蓝。’ 我把黑月的蓝命名为黑月·国际胜利蓝。如果我们把这个蓝放在人生的大海里面，我们的心会变得更加的辽阔、深邃、有盼望”。
展览将持续四十天的时间，到10月16日结束。
黑月·季胜利个人艺术展《生命蓝》上海开幕：用蓝色传递生命力量
“The ocean and the sky are both blue, a color that symbolizes endless possibilities and inspires us to explore the mysteries of life.”
This is a description of the theme of Heiyue (Black Moon) Ji Shengli’s solo art exhibition, “Life in Blue,” which opened on September 6.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition at Nancy’s Gallery in Shanghai, the gallery director Nancy Lee talked about how the color blue can inspire people to explore life’s mysteries. The exhibition featured Heiyue’s “Untitled” series, where he seeks to capture the sanctity, energy, prosperity, and hope in life through his affirmative paintings in International Klein Blue and art installations in royal blue.
Heiyue Ji Shengli was born and raised in Qinghai. In 1993, he joined the Yuanmingyuan artist colony, which marked the beginning of his artistic journey. From 2000 to 2012, Shengli worked on various artistic projects in Kobe, Oban, New York, and Beijing. One of his most notable works, “Buttocks 123 by Hei Yue,” playfully and provocatively challenges viewers to reflect on self-discipline. Hei Yue’s artistic repertoire also includes pieces such as “The Lookout,” “Untitled” (2018) featuring a clenched baby fist, and “What is Art? It’s About the People! – Hei Yue’s Art in Close-Up at Jingdezhen,” among others.
This exhibition features artwork in the shade of International Klein Blue, including landscapes, bamboo, and orchids painted with carborundum, canvas, and acrylic. The art pieces also incorporate elements such as ceramics, iron pins, discarded televisions, tin, and rotten wood.
In his introduction, curator and art critic Dr. Zha Changping mentioned that most of the artworks on display were created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two landscape paintings titled “Untitled” were created in 2021. These paintings have a plenty of empty space above the dynamic flowing "golden blue", giving viewers a sense of infinite brightness. It is a gentle yet strong feeling, both subjective and objective at the same time.
Zhang Xi, the founder of the Modern Art Museum Shanghai, praised Heiyue as a truly exceptional artist whose career is always evolving along with his life. After studying art in Qinghai, Heiyue has traveled far and wide to places like Beijing, Japan, New York, Jingdezhen, and Shanghai in search of inspiration. Mr. Zhang said, “Heiyue’s bamboo paintings are like the bones of a seasoned artist, with colors so beautiful they almost feel soft to the touch. However, in reality, these bones have been there since a young age, and what I see more are spines that cannot bend down.”
Professor Zhu Guohua, who holds a joint appointment in the Department of Chinese Language at East China Normal University and the School of International Chinese Studies, shared his thoughts on Hei Yue’s bamboo artwork, “The bamboo resembles bones, giving them a fragile appearance that challenges our traditional view of bamboo. By juxtaposing harmony and disharmony, as well as life and lifeless objects, Heiyue creates a contrast that encourages us viewers to ponder deeper meanings.”
Li Xiaofeng, a professor at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts and former curator of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts Art Museum, as well as a well-known critic, shared his thoughts on the artwork, “I believe these pieces are somehow connected to the epidemic. During that time of feeling suffocated while stuck at home, we need more vibrant colors to breathe life back into us. Heiyue, through his art, has successfully given us a sense of freedom and fresh air, fulfilling his artistic mission with great responsibility. In the realm of world art history, the color blue has always been associated with nobility, often reserved for figures like the Virgin Mary. It represents rationality, with a touch of solitude and mystery, giving off a feeling of purity. This color also symbolizes a type of freedom, one that is sacred and noble, rather than chaotic and lawless.”
Curator and art critic Dr. Zha Changping shared his experience visiting Heiyue’s studio, “It is quite a spacious place. But despite the sweltering heat a week earlier, Mr. Heiyue said, "I will get an air conditioner when finances allow." It is truly uncommon to see an artist so determined in the face of adversity. In many aspects of our lives, pushing through challenges is crucial, even if persistence does not always guarantee success. That is just a part of life.”
He went on to say, “There is a shade of blue known as International Klein Blue, but how does it differ from the blue of Heiyue? Klein once remarked, ‘When this blue is placed in the ocean, the ocean becomes bluer.’ I am calling Heiyue’s blue 'Heiyue - International Shengli Blue'. If we infuse this blue into the sea of life, our hearts will feel more expansive, deep, and brimmed with hope.”
The exhibition will run for 40 days and end on October 16.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
'Life in Blue' Art Exhibition Opens in Shanghai: Vitality Through the Shade of Blue
