At first glance, Chen Jiu and Jackson Li appear to be a Chinese version of "The Odd Couple": Chen Jiu is gentle and easygoing, often robed in flowing white clothes and quoting verses from theater and poetry; Jackson is focused and energetic, dressed in earthy tones and spouting words and ideas at a hundred miles per minute. Chen Jiu's ink wash paintings are lyrical, capturing scenes from theater and literature with grace and whimsy. Jackson's ceramic styles range from the delicate and refined nature of his "New Imperial" porcelain vessels to his rough and robust "New Mingei" cups and bowls. Both artists share a deep reverence for tradition and a passion for celebrating and promoting the heart and heritage of China, and their commonality lies in their calling and commitment to sustain the rich artistic traditions of their homeland.
Time Doth Swiftly Fly is the first joint exhibition between these two artists and it is a study of contrasts as much as it is a narrative on heritage. twocities Curator Shannon Guo writes in the catalogue preface:
This
exhibition germinated from the collaborative creative energy of these two
artists. As Jackson describes, “Clay and Ink are
two totally different mediums, differing in expression and creative process,
but they share the same cultural spirit of China. They represent softness and
hardness. The beauty of Ink changes and infiltrating the paper is just like
poetry. Clay becomes eternal when going through the test of fire. Clay and Ink
are two prime examples embodying China’s heritage.” Time
Doth Swiftly Fly is a dialogue between Ink and Clay, seeking to re-interpret
their understanding of traditional art in a contemporary context.
The exhibit opens this Saturday and the reception is from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. The reception will include a tea ceremony and live guqin (seven-string zither) performance. Both Chen Jiu and Jackson will be in attendance to talk about their artwork.
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