Starting on July 29, 2024, the highly anticipated exhibition "Eternal Spiral IV - James Jean" will be unveiled at the Today Art Museum in Beijing. James Jean, renowned as one of the most exciting contemporary artists, constantly pushes the boundaries of his artistic style. Drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as Chinese silk scroll painting, Japanese woodblock prints, and Baroque art, Jean incorporates elements from art history into his creations. By fusing traditional techniques with contemporary culture and ancient prophecies, he constructs a captivating visual universe that is uniquely his own.

Presented by Today Works in collaboration with the Today Art Museum and Gallery All, and with Mercedes-Benz as the chief art partner, this exhibition shows James Jean's boundless creative energy.

The central inspiration for this exhibition derives from James Jean's recent visit to the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China. Within the temple, there is a stunningly adorned wall built in 1795, known as the "Qilin Wall". This wall features depictions of the qilin, a mythical creature often referred to as the Chinese unicorn. With the head of a loong, scales of a fish, hooves of a bull, and a lion's tail, the qilin is a fascinating and enigmatic creature. The main visual for the exhibition, titled "Chimera", draws from the fragmented ceramic sculptures that comprise the Qilin Wall, with their peculiar proportions. Furthermore, the temple is adorned with numerous banyan trees, their intricate roots gracefully spreading above the ground.

"It is a coincidence that my family originally came from Fujian Province. The history of my family disappeared without a trace after a few generations because when my grandparents moved to Taiwan, they were unable to pass on the rich family memories to my parents properly."

In "Chimera", the banyan tree's roots symbolize a search for meaning, unable to find a solid foundation or connect to any specific historical context. The figure of the boy in the artwork is a collage of discarded materials from various cultures, reaching out in a quest for significance.

James Jean has garnered a significant following, with over a million fans on platforms such as Instagram and Xiaohongshu. Among his most popular content are the process videos exhibiting the creation of his artworks.

Within the Beijing exhibition of "Eternal Spiral", visitors will have the opportunity to experience the artist's creative process through time-lapse videos of ten artworks. These videos offer a glimpse into the magical connection between Jean and the canvas, as he translates inspiration into delicate lines and imbues them with dreamlike colors. The resulting complex visuals resemble allegories of the contemporary world.

The exhibition features several paintings spanning over 10 meters in length, skillfully interweaving tradition and fantasy. Six large-scale paintings by James Jean will be showcased.

Early in his career, the artist developed a habit of sketching his works, akin to sculpting. The lines in these sketches possess tremendous energy and precision, resulting from Jean's constant process of erasing and redrawing. By closely observing these exploratory steps, viewers gain insight into how the artist constructs the intricate worlds within his artworks. In the sketches, nothing is fully formed, and every concept is revealed through the artist's strokes.

Simultaneously, alongside "Eternal Spiral IV - James Jean", Today Art Museum will also present the printmaking exhibition "Ur Days R Numbered" by the artist. Located on the first floor of the museum at the Today Art Store, this exhibition showcases nearly one hundred prints and sculptures created by James Jean over the past decade.

Printmaking holds a significant place in James Jean's artistic career. Since the early stages of his profession, he has been creating prints and was an early adopter of digital printing technology. However, Jean's exploration of printmaking goes beyond mere reproduction; he seeks to merge this traditional and enigmatic craft with contemporary digital techniques and machinery.

Through his printmaking creations, the artist traverses between the East and the West, seamlessly incorporating images from nature, history, mythology, and classics. The harmony of interconnectedness between all things is unveiled within these works.

Born in Taiwan, China, in 1979, James Jean moved to the United States with his family at the age of three. He attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he obtained his art degree in 2001. James Jean's artistic style bridges Eastern and Western aesthetics, combining contemporary themes with techniques drawn from Chinese traditional scroll painting, Japanese woodblock prints, Renaissance portraiture, West African masks, comics, and psychedelic art. Through his exploration of various styles and art historical genres, Jean portrays the vast experiences and emotions of individuals within a complex cosmic world. Furthermore, he skillfully extracts imagery from contemporary culture and ancient allegories, crafting his own mythological realm.

Translator: FENG Haoxuan 

Reviewer: DING Zhizhong