繁荫 Fán Yīn : 繁荫 Peike (裴可) - Hiromi Murai - Yichao Liu (刘艺超) - Edward Hongyi Jia (贾弘毅)

繁荫 (Fán Yīn) is a state of mind that evokes the lush, protective shelter provided by a dense cover of leaves. It symbolizes the abundance of nature, and its role as a sanctuary for life. And while there is no direct English translation for this Chinese word, Fán Yīn invites the viewer to conjure their own. In today’s chaotic world, Fán Yīn serves as a tranquil oasis beneath the proverbial canopy, where the mind can find rest amongst refraction. 

This group exhibition of works by emergent to early career artists showcases a diverse range of compositions that explore the richness and power of the natural world through various artistic mediums and styles. The participating artists—Pei Ke, Hiromi Murai, Yichao Liu, and Edward Hongyi Jia—each bring their unique perspective to the theme, examining the intricate relationships between nature and humanity; past and present; reality and illusion. Collectively, the works included in Fán Yīn evoke the peace of ecosystems, both natural and artificial, working in symbiotic pursuit of peaceful survival.

Edward Hongyi Jia’s “Sun” warms the room with inverse proportion, lending light, shadow and palpable humidity to Fán Yīn, which emerges as its own ecosystem. Within the context of Pei Ke’s tempera paintings of flora and fauna; Hiromi Murai’s employment of traditional Japanese painting techniques; and Yichao Liu’s studied contrasts of representation versus abstraction, the exhibition presents a comprehensive view of the forms and meanings found in nature–engaging the viewer on visual, tactile, and spiritual levels.