Zhong Wei - 省電模式 ［■□□□］· phone died

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Beijing-based contemporary artist Zhong Wei exhibition titled 省電模式［■□□□］·phone died features a new series of works on canvas as well as a large-scale installation that contemplates modes of communication in times of social sterility and 21st century, post-Covid-19 angst. 省電模式［■□□□］·phone died opens May 15 and runs through July 3.

of the gallery space. At the core of the installation, a pulsating organ-like sculpture is housed inside a steel structure with transparent PVC curtains. Wire, tubes, and cables extend outwards from underneath the sculpture. Light emanating from their syncronized pulse is revealed through partially removed floor boards, visually reminiscent of circulatory veins and arteries that lie under the surface of our skin.

Alien-like organic forms and fragmented compositions are recurring motifs in Zhong Wei’s artworks. Sourcing his imagery from the dynamic and vivid visual language of Internet culture, Zhong Wei digitally collages select elements into complexly layered compositions before transferring his creations onto canvas via acrylic, archival pigment print, and/or silkscreen.

The cold and sterile aesthetic of Forget is a representation of the mechanical systems that facilitate the exchange of information in our current technological era. The installation’s biomorphic characteristics, however, are the artist’s comment on what these systems signify in a time of social suspense. As civilization is ushered indoors by the fear of infection, the lines of Zhong Wei’s practice draws inspiration from a vast range of communication that tunnel beneath the city serve as extensions subjects, particularly contemporary culture and its ever- of the body, imbued with vitality amidst the gradually decaying changing forms. His most recent body of work incorporates surface. new narratives that reflect upon his own fruitless and exhausted efforts against the pandemic, as well as a lingering uncertainty and anxiety caused by the current state of social standstill.

His large-scale multimedia installation Forget sits in the center

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代理駐北京當代藝術家鍾慰的第二次個人展覽《省電模式［■□□□

］·phone died》將展示一系列新畫作以及大型裝置作品，以思索21世 紀 時 期，新 冠 肺 炎後 的 焦 慮 以 及社 會 靜止 的 交 流。《省 電 模 式

［■□□□］·phone died》將於5月15日開幕並持續展出至7月3日。

機械系統。然而，裝置的生物形態特徵，卻是藝術家對這些機械系統

在社會停擺時期重要性的詮釋。人們基於對傳染病的恐懼，將文明帶

入了室內。而在城市下面穿行的通訊線路，便是人體的延伸，在逐漸 衰落的地面之下充斥著生命力。

鍾慰的作品中經常出現外星人般的有機形態和碎片化的圖案。鍾慰

從互聯網文化生動的視覺語言中獲取靈感，選取多種不同的元素拼 貼為複雜、多層次的數碼構圖，然後再將構圖通過壓克力，收藏級噴

墨打印，或絲網印刷轉移到畫布上。

鍾慰的創作從眾多題目中汲取了靈感，特別是當代文化及其不斷變化

的形式。他的最新作品描繪了新的敘述，反映了他自己對疫情無效且

疲憊的努力，以及由於當前的社會停滯狀態而產生的，揮之不去的不

確定性和焦慮感。

他的大型多媒體裝置《忘不了》設於畫廊空間中心。裝置的核心部分，

一個仿似脈動器官的雕塑，被安置在帶有透明膠簾的鋼鐵結構內部。 不同的電線、管道和電纜從雕塑下方向外延伸。透過部分移開的地板

得以看到，它們同步而規律地發出光芒，讓人聯想到藏於皮膚表面的 靜脈循環和動脈。

《忘不了》的冰冷和枯燥美學，代表當今科技時代中促進信息交換的

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Zhong Wei Sunday 2021 Acrylic on canvas 84 x 84 cm

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“My new work references a specific anxiety. It’s like when your phone dies, and you’re out and can’t find a place to charge it. You’re on edge and impatient.

I think everyone living in our fast-paced, modern era can relate” – Zhong Wei

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「這種感覺就像出門時候手機沒有電，但卻找

不到地方充電一樣，迫不及待但又焦慮。我想 生活在如此快節奏裡的現代人，每個人都體

會到這種心情。因此這個展覽中的作品是在 這種，狀態下創作的作品的展示。」

– 鍾慰

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Zhong Wei A Wednesday 2021 Acrylic on canvas 175 x 245 cm

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Zhong Wei Dragonet 2021 Acrylic on canvas 92 x 139 cm

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Zhong Wei Edge 2021413 2021 Acrylic on canvas 200 x 200 cm

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Zhong Wei Forget 2020 Wires, rubber tubes, LED lights, aluminum, mini computer, zip ties Dimensions variable

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Zhong Wei Cover 2021316 2021 Acrylic and archival pigment print on canvas 100 x 100 cm

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Zhong Wei Cover 20210407 2021 Acrylic and archival pigment print on canvas 100 x 100 cm

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Zhong Wei Thursday 2021 Acrylic and archival pigment print on canvas 160 x 270 cm

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Zhong Wei For the Moment 2021 Acrylic on canvas 150 x 240 cm

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Artist Bio

Zhong Wei was born in 1987 in Beijing, China, where he lives and works today.

Zhong Wei’s artwork takes form in immersive installations and canvases that speak to China’s vibrant but chaotic Internetbased visual language. Having compiled a massive database of memes and imagery found online, Zhong uses these ubiquitous images as raw materials for his work. While certain icons in his artwork are widely recognized, others exist merely as memorabilia from a specific time within his browser history.

Much of his inspiration is drawn from traditional Buddhist art, which is referenced in the innumerable folds seen within many of his works. To Zhong Wei, the complex shapes conceived from these folds reflect the structure of humanity and culture.

However, the concept that runs throughout all of Zhong Wei’s work is an idea he refers to as “coupling.” It is the notion that the endless flow of information on the internet generates random pairings, resulting in thoughts and energy that drives our current evolution and shifts in culture.

藝術家簡介

鍾慰於1987年在中國北京出生，現今仍然在北京生活和工作。 鍾慰的作品以沉浸式裝置和布面藝術為主，作品內容則呼應著中國

充滿活力卻混亂的互聯網視覺語言。鍾氏蒐集網路模因和圖像，組成

豐富的數據庫，再將這些常見的影像作為作品的原材料。作品中一部 份的圖像眾所周知，其他的卻已淪落為過往瀏覽紀錄的一份回憶。他

深受傳統佛教藝術的感染，其影響可從他許多作品中數之不盡的褶

皺看見。在鍾氏看來，褶皺堆砌而起的複雜形體影射著人類文明的結

構。不過，貫穿他作品的概念即是他稱為「耦合」的理念。此理念反映

了互聯網永無止息的資訊所產生的隨機配對，從而塑造促進當代社會 發展與文化轉變的思想精神。

Artist CV

b. 1987 born in Beijing, China; Currently works and lives in Beijing.

2007

North China University of Technology Academy of Art and Design (dropped out)

Solo Exhibitions

2021 2020 2019

省電模式 ［■□□□］· phone died, de Sarthe, Hong Kong, China

Void Loop, Plate Space, Beijing, China

易变 ░ 耦态°∶Nёメㄒ 乚ěVéし, de Sarthe, Hong Kong, China Group Exhibitions

2020

When Mythology Jumps Into Economy: A Big Spash of Ecology, Plate Space x postpost, Beijing, China Illusive Particles, MadeIn Gallery, Shanghai, China Contemporary Show Off, de Sarthe, Hong Kong, China Public Collections JPMorgan Chase Collection, USA Divide By Zero Collection, Hong Kong, China

藝術家履歷

1987 出生於中國北京，現工作與生活於北京。

2007

2021 2020 2019

2020

北方工業大學，藝術設計系（退學） 個展

《省電模式 ［■□□□］· phone died》 《循在變量》，盤子空間，北京，中國

《易变 ░ 耦态°∶Nёメㄒ 乚ěVéし》, 德薩畫廊，香港, 中國 群展

《八仙下海》，盤子空間 x postpost，北京， 中國 《幻象顆粒》，沒頂畫廊，上海，中國

《炫耀當代》，德薩畫廊，香港， 中國 公共收藏

摩根大通藝術收藏，美國

Divide By Zero 收藏，香港，中國

May 15–Jul 3, 2021

DE SARTHE 20/F, Global Trade Square, No.21 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11am–7pm T: +852 2167 8896 F: +852 2167 8893 E: hongkong@desarthe.com PUBLICATION Texts: Willem Molesworth, Allison Cheung, Julia Li Photography & Design: Vivian Yau

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means in whole or part, without prior written permission from the gallery and the artist. 版權所有。未經畫廊和藝術家的事先書面許可，不得以任何形式或手段全部或部分複製本出版物的任何部分。

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