"Huangdi (the Yellow Thearch) examined and established the celestial calendar, defined Wuxing (five elements), and determined the cycles of waxing and waning (revised the calendar and set the beginning of the first month)."
— Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Book of Calendars, Han Dynasty
The imagination and observation of planets by ancient Chinese scholars can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (Western Han, 202 BC – 9 AD). The emergence of astronomy broadened humanity's understanding of abstract concepts such as Yi (易), Dao (道), the Five Elements (Wu Xing), and the principle of "the unity of heaven and humanity" (Tian Ren He Yi). As products of ancient astronomical studies, planets and their orbits not only facilitated the calculation of calendar and time but also bring up the debate of weather there is "an unalterable law of the universe." Just as the motion of planets follows an invisible forces that govern their trajectories, might all things in the world "colliding" and "interacting" similarly adhere to a perpetual state of convergence and divergence? This exhibition revolves around the artist's exploration of this everlasting philosophical concept.
The Harmony series is a continuous exploration of Hao Shiming's works on paper, which center on the "double-hooked" technique inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy. By pre-drawing liner colors as the fundamental base, Hao meticulously outlines each stroke and layering colors repetitively to achieve a three-dimensional visual effect. Grounded in the structure of traditional Chinese calligraphy, his works on paper not only present an abstract expression that balances order and readability, but also echoing the format of painting in the Western art context at the same time. The "communication" between the artist and his chosen materials—paper and matte acrylic—manifests as a dynamic exploration of color and form. This dialogue generates a vitality (qi) that intertwines with the works, capturing an often-overlooked resonance within the present era.
Notably, in the silk paintings from the Stone series, the artist eschews the traditional Chinese depiction of "stone" as a symbol of stability, instead striving to convey a sense of vacancy and levitation. The composition of "stone-like yet subtle" lines evokes the imagery of floating planets colliding repeatedly in an anti-gravity environment, in which they are continuously shifting and transforming under the influence of force.
The resonance between the Harmony and the Stone series represents Hao Shiming’s latest exploration of the consistency in space. Abstract lines rendered on traditional mediums such as rocks and silk extend across various "surfaces," establishing a dialogue between installations and easel paintings. This interplay fosters a harmonious cross-media coherence throughout the exhibition space.
Hao begins with evolving lines, aiming to construct spatial depth while simultaneously creating a three-dimensional effect. However, this notion of three-dimensional effect is apart from the perspective rooted in the Western history of Art. Instead, he employs a unified brushstroke and a "linguistic system" (calligraphy) derived from traditional Chinese culture to achieve a lighter, but distinct, Oriental spatial expression. Through this approach, the abstract artistic language ultimately transforms into a form of normalcy that is accessible to the viewer.
Hao Shiming, born in 1977 in Heze, Shandong Province, graduated from the traditional painting department of the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts in 2000 and graduated with a master’s degree from Capital Normal University in 2014. He now works at Hubei Provincial Academy of Fine Arts and lives in Wuhan and Beijing. Combining tradition with modernity, Hao Shiming's works attempt to rebuild a new personal identity. Hao Shiming’s works have been exhibited by numerous important art museums, including Sydney City Hall, National Art Museum of China, Shanghai Art Museum, Today Art Museum, Hubei Art Museum, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Wuhan Art Museum, etc.
