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Lot Essay
Born in 1983, Hao Liang studied Chinese Painting at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and obtained a Master's Degree in 2009. On one hand, Hao Liang practiced Chinese ink painting and the traditional Gongbi school of painting that emphasises naturalistic depictions and the intricate craft of ink application techniques; on the other hand, he was heavily influenced by the grandeur of western Baroque paintings. His works reflect an understanding of visual languages that crosses the boundaries of eastern and western philosophies.
In his youth, Hao Liang loved paranormal stories told in antique books and ancient literatures. This inspired him to infuse his painting with pieces of history and stories. Within an intricately painted scene of birds and flowers, the artist also narrates a fairytale-like story that investigates into the inevitability of life and death that permeates all things. A River Apart (Lot 40) is one of Hao Liang's early works. Separated by a sea of flowers, a little boy with white hair stands opposite to a skeleton. This is the boundary between life and death, fantasy and reality. Skeleton Marionette Show painted by the Southern Song court painter Li Song inspired Hao Liang to use the skeleton as a subject to depict death. The proportional truncations in the picture can be viewed as the indentation of space or a visual game of isolating the picture from the viewer. This is perhaps also inspired by the use of trompe l'oeil in the Pompeii fresco - this visual device was continually used in western painting. A recent example of this technique includes the Surrealist works by Rene Magritte who thoroughly explored the fantastic possibilities of such an optical experience. In the painting, the skeleton wears the same trousers as the little boy. From this, we can deduce that the skeleton is a portrait of the little boy himself. Perhaps it is him in the future, perhaps it is his dream, and perhaps it is his interpretation of death. The skeleton extends his left hand beckoning the little boy from across the sea of flowers. It appears to be an invitation from death, or perhaps it is telling the little boy, "I once was what you are and what I am you also will be".
Born in 1983 in Chengdu, Sichuan, Hao Liang graduated from the Chinese Painting Department of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute with Bachelor Degree in 2006. He is currently Master Student of Chinese Painting at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. His Solo exhibition include : Nest Image-Haoliang solo exhibition, My Humble house Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (2011) and Secluded and Infinite Places: Hao Liang Solo ExhibitionABeijing, China ]2014^. He also participated numerous group exhibitions include: Luo Zhongli Scholarship awards Group Exhibition, Chongqing Art Museum, Chongqing, China (2009); My Humble House 2010 - Exhibition of a New Generation, My Humble house Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (2010)F Changing ViewG Nomination Exhibition of Chinese Contemporary Gongbi Art, Times Art Museum, Beijing ,China (2010). Fine Art Beijing -Invitational Exhibition of Young Wash Painter's Works-Unbounded, Beijing, China (2011)F The 43th BaselArt, Basel, Switzerland (2012)F and The Basel Miami Beach Art, Miami (2012). Hao Liang currently lives in Beijing.
In his youth, Hao Liang loved paranormal stories told in antique books and ancient literatures. This inspired him to infuse his painting with pieces of history and stories. Within an intricately painted scene of birds and flowers, the artist also narrates a fairytale-like story that investigates into the inevitability of life and death that permeates all things. A River Apart (Lot 40) is one of Hao Liang's early works. Separated by a sea of flowers, a little boy with white hair stands opposite to a skeleton. This is the boundary between life and death, fantasy and reality. Skeleton Marionette Show painted by the Southern Song court painter Li Song inspired Hao Liang to use the skeleton as a subject to depict death. The proportional truncations in the picture can be viewed as the indentation of space or a visual game of isolating the picture from the viewer. This is perhaps also inspired by the use of trompe l'oeil in the Pompeii fresco - this visual device was continually used in western painting. A recent example of this technique includes the Surrealist works by Rene Magritte who thoroughly explored the fantastic possibilities of such an optical experience. In the painting, the skeleton wears the same trousers as the little boy. From this, we can deduce that the skeleton is a portrait of the little boy himself. Perhaps it is him in the future, perhaps it is his dream, and perhaps it is his interpretation of death. The skeleton extends his left hand beckoning the little boy from across the sea of flowers. It appears to be an invitation from death, or perhaps it is telling the little boy, "I once was what you are and what I am you also will be".
Born in 1983 in Chengdu, Sichuan, Hao Liang graduated from the Chinese Painting Department of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute with Bachelor Degree in 2006. He is currently Master Student of Chinese Painting at Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. His Solo exhibition include : Nest Image-Haoliang solo exhibition, My Humble house Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (2011) and Secluded and Infinite Places: Hao Liang Solo ExhibitionABeijing, China ]2014^. He also participated numerous group exhibitions include: Luo Zhongli Scholarship awards Group Exhibition, Chongqing Art Museum, Chongqing, China (2009); My Humble House 2010 - Exhibition of a New Generation, My Humble house Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan (2010)F Changing ViewG Nomination Exhibition of Chinese Contemporary Gongbi Art, Times Art Museum, Beijing ,China (2010). Fine Art Beijing -Invitational Exhibition of Young Wash Painter's Works-Unbounded, Beijing, China (2011)F The 43th BaselArt, Basel, Switzerland (2012)F and The Basel Miami Beach Art, Miami (2012). Hao Liang currently lives in Beijing.