In 2020, the magical monsters of the “Shan Hai Jing” seemed to have been be unsealed as the epidemic swept the world. Perhaps they had accepted Wang Chuan’s sincere invitation and appeared one after another in his mind, before coming out from his pen and computer. Every time when a drawing was created, it felt like déjà vu. They seemed to have been waiting somewhere, including in the depths of his own consciousness, for a long time.

Their arrival was just the beginning. This was the process of introspecting oneself and understanding the world again. It was a truly wonderful journey to follow the magical monsters and visit the past and the present. On one side were the phantasms in ancient paintings that he had longed for, and on the other side was the reality carried by countless photos. Ideas and perspectives were repeatedly pulled and dragged between these two levels.

“A New Chapter of a Strange Beast of ‘Shan Hai Jing’ Entering the World” combines photographic works that aim to point to the current social life. According to the meaning of the content, corresponding mythical beasts are combined to generate a new visual metaphor. Light boxes are used as the main form of the work for their three-dimensional depth and looming effect, allowing the main image to appear real yet illusory, and to interact physically with the viewers.
 

Wang Chuan

Wang Chuan, Professor of Photography Department, doctoral tutor of Central Academy of Fine Arts, Director of the of Office of International Cooperation and Communication, Director of Future Image Lab. From 1986 to 1990, he studied in the Book Design department at the Central Academy of Art and Design and graduated with a BA degree. From 1998 to 2000, Wang enrolled in the Photography Program between CAFA, China and QCA, Grifth University, Australia, and obtained his MA degree in Visual Art.

Selected exhibitions include: “Year of the Tiger” Spring Festival Art Pop-Up Special Exhibition, Dalian Times Square, Liaoning (2022); Tracing, dual exhibition, K11 Q CLUB, Shanghai (2021); In Parallel: History and The Present, 33 Contemporary Art Center, Guangzhou (2020); Fleeting Time, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei (2014); Colorful, Pekin Fine Arts Gallery, Beijing (2013); Refocus: Dragon, solo exhibition, Pekin Fine Arts, Beijing (2011); The 8 Great Sites of Beijing, Pekin Fine Arts Gallery, Beijing (2009).