"Mozart-Gene: Li Jiwei Solo Exhibition" is hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in China and Central Academy of Fine Arts, and is undertaken by CAFA Art Museum. The exhibition displays 17 works of artist Li Jiwei. As one of the programs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Austria, the exhibition is a new result of cultural communications between the two countries.
There’s plenty of history between Li Jiwei and CAFA. After studying thoroughly into Chinese art at CAFA, Li went abroad to study at the Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien. His creative practice is an example of the many Chinese artists who have expanded their stage from China to the world. For decades, Li creatively mixed the elements and aesthetics of China and the west. He broke down the boundaries between the traditional and the contemporary, and his canvas changed from the two-dimensional to three-dimensional, and even kinetic art, in which way he extended the expressiveness of ink and wash painting. In his cross-cultural journey, Li Jiwei has continuously explored and reflected upon culture and art, which makes his work a symbol of humanity that is beyond borders.
Li created 17 works specially for this exhibition. He experimented with transparent material and ink propylene. Through the magical effects of light, he transferred the spirit of Mozart’s music into the melody and poetry of vision. Through an abstract art form, he not only displayed music as it is, but also conveyed the idea that people and music are united into one. Using the concepts of deconstructionism and spirit of Chinese painting, he symbolically suggested the meaning of going beyond belief, pursuing freedom and returning to the nature in Mozart’s music. Through building an abstract and oriental visual space, Li expressed his understanding and respect towards Mozart’s spirit. Li’s works are also a contemporary response to an important question: How do we deal with the relationship between Chinese traditional art and western cultural heritage?
The exhibition is successful owing to the support of CAFA Bureau of International Collaboration, the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in China, especially its department of culture and department of science and technology, Mr. Li Jiwei and his production team, and many public organizations.
About Li Jiwei
Li Jiwei was born in Beijing in 1960. From 1980 to 1984, he studied at the Department of Chinese Painting at CAFA. He taught at the Department of Fine Arts at the Beijing Film Academy from 1984 to 1988. From 1990 to 1993, he studied from Professor Markus Prachensky at the Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien. He participated in the Abstract Painting Masterclass, and won the Masterclass Award and scholarship. By the time he graduated with a master degree in Fine Arts, he was also awarded a Goldener Fügerpreis. In 1994, Li joined the Austrian Professional Artists Association. He traveled and lived in the US and Canada (in cities and regions like New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal). From 1999 to 2001, he studied multimedia art at the Universität der Künste Berlin. He has been living in Berlin and Beijing since 1996.
Li Jiwei is a student of Mr. Ye Qianyu. Under the guidance of Mr. Ye’s idea of "Learn widely and see widely", Li Jiwei studied deeply into the tradition of Chinese art in his days at CAFA, while thinking non-stopping about how to break from the tradition and create works of his time. During his study in Austria and Germany, he systematically studied the history of western art, especially the development course of contemporary art. From large-scale public art, to installations and canvas paintings, Li’s works have always been a creation across the traditional and the contemporary, a mixture of east and west, and a new and unique visual language created with new media and materials.
As one of the programs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Austria, CAFA is grateful to co-host the "Mozart-Gene: Li Jiwei Solo Exhibition" with the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in China. The exhibition is a new result of cultural communications between the two countries, showing the effort of Mr Li Jiwei that created works especially for this exhibition, and also shows the good wishes to the bright future of the diplomatic relationship between China and Austria.
Mr. Li Jiwei embarked on the road of art in the era of China's reform and opening up. His art is representative of the experience of a generation of Chinese artists going out from China to the world. As an alumnus of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, he once studied traditional Chinese art, and his studies in Austria and Germany enabled him to broadly study the western art, and moreover, to integrate himself into the development of international contemporary art. His outstanding artistic talent and passion for exploration are fully reflected in his decades of creation. In large-scale public art, in the use of new media and new materials, in the "cross-border" integration and innovation, he has produced many works full of romantic imagination and visual poetry. His works are the combination of the traditional Chinese philosophical concept of "the unity of nature and man" and the "creation" method, and are also the conceptual outcome of contemporary art's awareness of people and the world, life and destiny. It can be said that he is an outstanding artist who interweaves Chinese and Western art elements into a visual spectacle on a cross-cultural journey.
In the exhibition "Mozart-Gene", we can see Li Jiwei's typical language. He calmly controlled the material as medium, turning the sculpture-like objects into a magical wizard in the light effect, and the sound of music into a visible melody, showing the transcendence of faith, the pursuit of freedom and the yearning for nature in Mozart's music. With the theme of Austria’s cultural pride and the Mozart music loved by the Chinese people, Mr. Li Jiwei’s new work is an artistic commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria.
The spread of Covid epidemic around the world has brought severe challenges to mankind. It has made us more mourn the lives that have passed away and more cherish the value of life. The Austrian Embassy in China, the International Office of CAFA and my colleagues in the Art Museum have all provided strong support to have this exhibition be held in Mr. Li Jiwei’s alma mater this time. We all believe that excellent art can heal people’s psychological trauma, give people warm comfort and hopes, just like the deep humanitarian spirit in Mozart’s music as an important cultural gene, and always give people the courage to look forward for the future.
Director of CAFA
President of China Artists Association
Fan Di'an
Early winter, 2021
As one of the programs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Austria, CAFA is grateful to co-host the "Mozart-Gene: Li Jiwei Solo Exhibition" with the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in China. The exhibition is a new result of cultural communications between the two countries, showing the effort of Mr Li Jiwei that created works especially for this exhibition, and also shows the good wishes to the bright future of the diplomatic relationship between China and Austria.
Mr. Li Jiwei embarked on the road of art in the era of China's reform and opening up. His art is representative of the experience of a generation of Chinese artists going out from China to the world. As an alumnus of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, he once studied traditional Chinese art, and his studies in Austria and Germany enabled him to broadly study the western art, and moreover, to integrate himself into the development of international contemporary art. His outstanding artistic talent and passion for exploration are fully reflected in his decades of creation. In large-scale public art, in the use of new media and new materials, in the "cross-border" integration and innovation, he has produced many works full of romantic imagination and visual poetry. His works are the combination of the traditional Chinese philosophical concept of "the unity of nature and man" and the "creation" method, and are also the conceptual outcome of contemporary art's awareness of people and the world, life and destiny. It can be said that he is an outstanding artist who interweaves Chinese and Western art elements into a visual spectacle on a cross-cultural journey.
In the exhibition "Mozart-Gene", we can see Li Jiwei's typical language. He calmly controlled the material as medium, turning the sculpture-like objects into a magical wizard in the light effect, and the sound of music into a visible melody, showing the transcendence of faith, the pursuit of freedom and the yearning for nature in Mozart's music. With the theme of Austria’s cultural pride and the Mozart music loved by the Chinese people, Mr. Li Jiwei’s new work is an artistic commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria.
The spread of Covid epidemic around the world has brought severe challenges to mankind. It has made us more mourn the lives that have passed away and more cherish the value of life. The Austrian Embassy in China, the International Office of CAFA and my colleagues in the Art Museum have all provided strong support to have this exhibition be held in Mr. Li Jiwei’s alma mater this time. We all believe that excellent art can heal people’s psychological trauma, give people warm comfort and hopes, just like the deep humanitarian spirit in Mozart’s music as an important cultural gene, and always give people the courage to look forward for the future.
Director of CAFA
President of China Artists Association
Fan Di'an
Early winter, 2021
2021-12-28
2021-12-30
2022-01-06
