Zhang Tingqun

The Shape of Volition

Zhang Tinqun`s artistic expression is the crystallization of empirical

exploration and interpolation on manifestations of the human

consciousness harnessing volition and life-force into palpable artworks.

Guided by Buddhist pursuits of self-cultivation, day after day and year

after year, Zhang Tingqun yields his brush on paper and canvas with

unfaltering attention and unwavering steadfastness. Charged with serene

mindfulness and fluid momentum, the uninterrupted coherence of his

motivation and will coupled with the ebb and flow of his breath, send

forth a pulse which sets forth the most natural course and shape for each

brush stroke. The visible continuity of seamlessly fused irregularities

extends into an endless and complex mesh of intertwining linear and

ecliptic forms. Hence, just as Imagery and imagination find

representation, the essence of being and willing find expression through

the mind-body unison at the core of Zhang Tingqun`s creative process.

As the brush delivers this will to its destination, it traces a myriad paths

and intersections, rendering the individuality and singularity of each

thread of paint inextricable form the entanglement and profusion of the

stratified pattern. The confluence of chance and consequence,

occurrence and outcome, overlap in the paradigm of nature`s expanse

and inherent simplicity, gliding through time and space vectored by the

artist`s self-determination. The dense disarray of disparate fine lines,

bends and curves in tightly knit webs depict the ultimate chaos- the

potential and impetus beyond systems of order and matter - while also

alluding to the self-regulating equilibrium and intricate balance that

prevails in nature. Nuanced by Baruch Spinoza`s conceptions of the self

and the universe, particularly the analogy between the predictable

manifestation of man`s actions and desires, and the measurable

precision in the behavior of lines, surfaces and volumes, Zhang

Tngqun`s paintings suggests that people`s output, like all known natural

phenomena, can be deduced and quantified through scientific logic and

mathematical calculation. This implies that man`s belief that he is free

and exercises freewill may only hold within the parameters of decisive

laws of Nature. Hence, the artist's mindful will is woven through planar

and crossing realms by deep concentration and attunement to Nature`s

predetermined designs, distilling rich artistic conception and

sophisticated mastery into elements of bare simplicity shaped by the

harmony attained with a visible reality. This approach is omnipresent in

Zhang Tingqun`s art and ancient Oriental philosophies, correlating with

teachings of Xun Zi, as early as China`s Warring States period (479-221

BC): "the unique nature of things can only be perceived through

openness of mind and humbleness of heart", as well as in the Sisyphean

concept of "Samadhi", which implies that profound awareness requires

mental stillness and oneness with the present.

Liang Shuhan Dr.

 

There seems to be a gigantic energy field in Zhang Tingqun's painting.

The crossed arcs in two-dimensional plane reduce and disintegrate the

concrete shapes till the origin of his own mental world. The sequences

and combinations in the filed full of parallel and crossed arcs, which are

asrigorous as mathematics, constructing repeatedly ‘opposing' powers.

The seemingly tender and thin arcsendows the picture a tension towards

outside the frame, in the sense of layersthey constitute. Modern physics

believes the basic element of nature is tinystring rather than the particle.

Vibrations of different frequencies createenergy waves to form a

multi-dimensional world. Zhang Tingqun's arcs reproduce the

mysterious sense of primitivity. His unfathomable creation is beyond

normal figurative thoughts. Both his transcendence of self-confession

and his trailblazing of new journey, allow him to surpass traditional

painting and enter the realm of metaphysics.

All the artworks in the exhibition are named after the moments of time.

Painted by brush, the image seems like a solemn calligraphy work. The

composition has a distant view without barriers in vision. Such an

elegance can only be perceived through meditation in nature. This is

derived from the past experience of the artist. Traditional training has

made his present painting style. From the balanced arcs, we can feel the

extreme mental stability of the artist during creation. His enduring

persistence and exploration offer him the mental state to re-explore. The

willingness becomes his supporting point. He uses arcs increation,

which are smooth, collide with each other and dissolve, thus forminga

beauty of balance just like the rhythm of music playing on the canvas.

Beauty become the subjective feeling in the context.

Works

Biography

The Shape of Volition

Zhang Tinqun`s artistic expression is the crystallization of empirical

exploration and interpolation on manifestations of the human

consciousness harnessing volition and life-force into palpable artworks.

Guided by Buddhist pursuits of self-cultivation, day after day and year

after year, Zhang Tingqun yields his brush on paper and canvas with

unfaltering attention and unwavering steadfastness. Charged with serene

mindfulness and fluid momentum, the uninterrupted coherence of his

motivation and will coupled with the ebb and flow of his breath, send

forth a pulse which sets forth the most natural course and shape for each

brush stroke. The visible continuity of seamlessly fused irregularities

extends into an endless and complex mesh of intertwining linear and

ecliptic forms. Hence, just as Imagery and imagination find

representation, the essence of being and willing find expression through

the mind-body unison at the core of Zhang Tingqun`s creative process.

As the brush delivers this will to its destination, it traces a myriad paths

and intersections, rendering the individuality and singularity of each

thread of paint inextricable form the entanglement and profusion of the

stratified pattern. The confluence of chance and consequence,

occurrence and outcome, overlap in the paradigm of nature`s expanse

and inherent simplicity, gliding through time and space vectored by the

artist`s self-determination. The dense disarray of disparate fine lines,

bends and curves in tightly knit webs depict the ultimate chaos- the

potential and impetus beyond systems of order and matter - while also

alluding to the self-regulating equilibrium and intricate balance that

prevails in nature. Nuanced by Baruch Spinoza`s conceptions of the self

and the universe, particularly the analogy between the predictable

manifestation of man`s actions and desires, and the measurable

precision in the behavior of lines, surfaces and volumes, Zhang

Tngqun`s paintings suggests that people`s output, like all known natural

phenomena, can be deduced and quantified through scientific logic and

mathematical calculation. This implies that man`s belief that he is free

and exercises freewill may only hold within the parameters of decisive

laws of Nature. Hence, the artist's mindful will is woven through planar

and crossing realms by deep concentration and attunement to Nature`s

predetermined designs, distilling rich artistic conception and

sophisticated mastery into elements of bare simplicity shaped by the

harmony attained with a visible reality. This approach is omnipresent in

Zhang Tingqun`s art and ancient Oriental philosophies, correlating with

teachings of Xun Zi, as early as China`s Warring States period (479-221

BC): "the unique nature of things can only be perceived through

openness of mind and humbleness of heart", as well as in the Sisyphean

concept of "Samadhi", which implies that profound awareness requires

mental stillness and oneness with the present.

Liang Shuhan Dr.

 

There seems to be a gigantic energy field in Zhang Tingqun's painting.

The crossed arcs in two-dimensional plane reduce and disintegrate the

concrete shapes till the origin of his own mental world. The sequences

and combinations in the filed full of parallel and crossed arcs, which are

asrigorous as mathematics, constructing repeatedly ‘opposing' powers.

The seemingly tender and thin arcsendows the picture a tension towards

outside the frame, in the sense of layersthey constitute. Modern physics

believes the basic element of nature is tinystring rather than the particle.

Vibrations of different frequencies createenergy waves to form a

multi-dimensional world. Zhang Tingqun's arcs reproduce the

mysterious sense of primitivity. His unfathomable creation is beyond

normal figurative thoughts. Both his transcendence of self-confession

and his trailblazing of new journey, allow him to surpass traditional

painting and enter the realm of metaphysics.

All the artworks in the exhibition are named after the moments of time.

Painted by brush, the image seems like a solemn calligraphy work. The

composition has a distant view without barriers in vision. Such an

elegance can only be perceived through meditation in nature. This is

derived from the past experience of the artist. Traditional training has

made his present painting style. From the balanced arcs, we can feel the

extreme mental stability of the artist during creation. His enduring

persistence and exploration offer him the mental state to re-explore. The

willingness becomes his supporting point. He uses arcs increation,

which are smooth, collide with each other and dissolve, thus forminga

beauty of balance just like the rhythm of music playing on the canvas.

Beauty become the subjective feeling in the context.

 

 

ZHANG TINGQUN

1981

Born in Fujian

2002

Graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts.

Living in Beijing since 2002.

Selected Solo Exhibition

2018

‘The shape of the will'Zhang Tingqun solo exhibition, European art capital, Valletta International Visual Arts Festival, Malta Chinese Culture Center.

2017

‘Out of the labyrinth'Zhang Tingqun Solo Exhibition,Beijing Shang 8 Museum

‘chord'Zhang Tingqun Solo Exhibition,Beijing Moshang Gallery

2015

'seven seeing' -Prototype image-Zhang Tingqun's solo exhibition, Songzhuang Art Museum, Beijing

2002

Of Difference-Zhang Tingqun Solo Exhibition, Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, Chongqing

Selected Group Exhibitions

2019

Encountering Rhythm of Time, crossing art, New York

Made in China-Contemporary Chinese Artists, Romania

Nanjing Yangtze contemporary art fair, Nanjing

ART BUSAN2019, South Korea

Youth Art + excellent works overseas tour, Seoul, South Korea

ENCOUNTERING RHYTHM OF TIME, New York

DISPLACEMENT, Beijing/London

2018

'equation of time'-Youth Art + contemporary young artists' Works Exhibition -France exhibition, Jack, government of barbson City, France.

2017

'Curitiba Biennale - China Pavilion Youth Narrative', Brazil

'Art Shenzhen', Shenzhen

Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Guangzhou Red Art Museum

Youth Talent +2017 Art Xiamen Expo

2017

'Young Art 100' Beijing Start Exhibition, Beijing Today Art Museum

Multidimensional. Second Contemporary Art Invitational Exhibition, Landscape Art Museum

'point - line', grass gallery, Shanghai

'Paper - First', Shanghai Han Tianheng Art Museum

'Born for the Art' 57th Venice Biennale Chinese Contemporary Artists - Nomination

Exhibition, Shanghai

'to the future' special joint exhibition, Beijing recollection society

New Viewpoint -2017 Youth Art + Tour, Malta

2016

China International Art & Culture Art Fair, Beijing Agricultural Exhibition Hall

"dividing line", Shanghai surplus art space

"unbounded" - China Young Artists Exchange Exhibition, Potsdam, Germany

'deep in the scene', ZOJE Museum of Contemporary Art

"Solitaire - collective unconscious visual rhythm at the exhibition of Aboriginal Art Museum

Hainan International Biennale, Hainan Sanya

2015

'star of the 2015 Academy of excellent works exhibition', Poly Art Museum, Beijing

Dangdang art exhibition, the top international art museum, Beijing

"Yu Guanghua 'second' poly college star" contemporary art exhibition, Peking University

Yunnan national minority hope project charity, Beijing

37.5 Zoomart contemporary art exhibition, Beijing2015 landscape garden, the second poly 'College star' contemporary art exhibition, Beijing time Museum

"poly spring shoot boutique selection" College star, Beijing AgriculturalExhibition Hall

poly 'College star' Art Invitation Exhibition, Beijing classic art space

2014

"College star - All flowers bloom together. parallel Exhibition", Beijing

798 Art District, ZERO zero art space

' 12 artists' works on 76 pieces of paper ', Beijing 798, season Gallery

2013

'SMASH PALACE',white rabbit gallery, Sydney,Australia

The 20 anniversary commemorate exhibition of Chinese artists cluster, Songzhuang art gallery,Beijing

2011

80 Art Files,Songzhuang art gallery,Beijing

2010

Canadian Embassy group exhibition,Beijing

'Chinese elements' ,Gallery,Taiwan

‘Naturally', LDX Contemporary Art Exhibition,Bei Jing,China

2008

URBAN FAIRY STORIES,Themis Gallery,Bei ing798 ,China.

CHINA LANDSCAPE,JANG ART GALLERY,Bei Jing,China.

2007

Shanghai Contemporary International Art Fair, Shanghai, China

3-Artist Exhibition, Avanthay Contemporary Art Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland

Sotheby's Autumn Auction, Switzerland

Living in Songzhuang, Songzhuang Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing, China

Exhibition of Zhang Tingqun and Zhou Yan's Work, Yibo Art Gallery, Shanghai,

China

2006

KunstRAI 2006, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

From the Songzhuang-Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, the Netherlands

Emotional and Form Exhibition, Rain Gallery, Beijing, China

2005

The First Songzhuang Culture and Arts Exhibition, Songzhuang, China

Tea-Horse Road-Exhibition of Zhang Tingqun and Zhou Yan's Works, Beijing,

China

Of Variety and Diversification - Invited Exhibition of Contemporary Oil

Paintings,

Wan Fung Art Gallery, Shanghai, China

2004

Words of the Young, Wan Fung Art Gallery, Beijing, China

2003

Tokyo Project Charity Auction of 99 Pieces of Works, 798 Art Zone, Beijing,

China

The First Youth Art Exhibition, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China

Contemporary Art Exhibition of 100 Artists, Beijing, China

2002

Chi-Rui Gallery Exhibition, Hong Kong, China

The Disappearing Pollution, Modern Bookstore, Chongqing, China

A 10-Artist Exhibition of Sichuan Academy of Fine Art, Chongqing, China

2001

Memorial Exhibition on the 120th Naissance Anniversary of Lu Xun, Shanghai, China

The 6th Annual Exhibition of Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, Chongqing, China

2000

The 5th Annual Exhibition of Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, Chongqing, China

Collectionï¼›

Australian white rabbit Art Museum, Sydney, Australia

Singapore UOB collection

Beijing Songzhuang Art Museum

Canadian ambassador to China

Sichuan Fine Art Institute collection