Zhou Gongmo's work is deeply rooted in the visual experience of digital imagery. As an artist living abroad, he has increasingly relied on screens to stay connected with family members. The physical distance and absence in communication have prompted him to reconsider the authenticity of images in the digital era. Zhou is particularly interested in the connection between spaces, with "reflection" becoming his method of observing the world. His exploration of the concept of "interfaces" drives him to establish a "parallel dimension" within materials such as glass and metal, offering viewers an ambiguous and unconventional visual experience.
Zhou Gongmo’s paintings are typically presented in series that resonate with one another, forming a coherent visual narrative. The "Screen Series" partly draws inspiration from the mobile application Leboncoin, where blurry figures mirror the postures of sellers photographing their items. Zhou reconstructs 12 selected images, arranging them into a structure resembling a Zoom window. In doing so, he transforms screens into interfaces that connect spaces and dimensions. The "Door Series," inspired by his daily life, features images captured on the streets of La Rochelle. Zhou reconstructs reflections on glass and metal doors on large canvases, exploring the voids and absences within these reflective surfaces. Though human figures are absent from his works, subtle details like locks and handles suggest potential interactions within the internal space, evoking ghostly presences and an ongoing search for authenticity.
Both screens and doors serve as interfaces between multiple dimensions in Zhou Gongmo’s works. They transcend the boundaries of figuration and abstraction, seamlessly blending the virtual and real worlds, and inviting viewers to reconsider the authenticity of virtual images and the transformation of spatial dimensions in the digital age.
Zhou Gongmo was born in 1993 in Hunan, China. He currently lives and works in Nantes, France. He earned his Bachelor's degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2015 and received the DNSEP diploma from Nantes Fine Arts School in 2023.
