The Spectator
Baoxun LI often stares at his surroundings with a "spectator" attitude. He handles everything calmly and effectively. He also looks at the society in daily life with timeless methods to solidify the role of time in painting objects.His work in recent years is habitually divided into three parts. The first one is the relatively early character series (2012-2014), which focuses on the living conditions of modern people. Another one is scene painting (2016-2017). The size of the work is larger and the messy sense would guide the audience to imagine what has happened before. This post-narrative hints the truth covered by the image and is full of ritual. The third part is of some objects that are not easy to be concerned with (2015-2018). The main objects are seemingly inanimate objects, as if they are frozen in space and time, but they have inexplicable gravitational attraction.
If the object is based on painting and becomes a hint of narrative support, it goes beyond physicality to some extent. The artist will create a necessary story through the control of the color, the prudent composition, and the changeable shape. Then the object has become an excuse. Moreover, it often appears that there is not much connection between different series of works, nor how tight the logic is. But it reflects the culture significance formed by extensive exploration and thinking under the constant trial and point-like thinking phenomena.
Baoxun LI's paintings do not have much bright colors. On the contrary, the screen is gray and avoiding the sun, with a slightly rough brushstroke, a bland and unconventional theme, showing a cool and dark sense. It is difficult to be shocked, but the hidden intentions behind his works refer to the reality which are like tragedies and can’t be ignored. Baoxun LI's path of thinking provides clues for his paintings. He mentioned Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein's "Aesthetics of Daily Life" and shifted his attention to some social groups and the re-recognition of human socialization. He hopes to find the deep structure of remanufacturing of his paintings through various practices of painting, which is used here as a phenomenon and related activities. Obviously, his methodology also uses structuralism, which is very fashionable, as if the methods of Ferdinand de Saussure, Roland Barthes, etc. were universally used. Indeed, in the application of painting, those visible objects, scenes, and people have no meaning for themselves. Their meaning is determined by the relationship between certain subjective factors in the setting situation.
As far as the work is concerned, if it is only the presentation of an image, how do you understand the artist's intention in the face of ambiguous and plausible images? At this point, the title will be the most direct reliance. The title may be one or two words, or it may be a phrase. In short, the "text" is accurate and abstract. It is very interesting that the title of Baoxun LI's works is deliberate. They remove the sense of inexplicability reflected in the painting itself. During the viewing, a broad and fuzzy initial view is focused on the artist's settings by a few short words. The titles are not explained, but bring people in. This approach is commonplace, allowing text and painting to be juxtaposed. It points somewhere, but throws a question to the audience at the same time and makes them participated in. The artist, the audience, the work, the description behind the work, and the interrelationship between the parties are involved in a certain situation. The final one is completed because of an act of work.
His indoor scenes are disorderly, giving people a sense of "first look" or "last look". Switching each painting is like another start or end, superimposing the tips of the title, full of uncertainties and haze in the turmoil. The innocent geese, apparently threatened by some kind of outside world, made a wary gesture of facing back and sideways. What's inside those sleeve and sleeveless bags? Will it bring you soft warmth, or another period of displacement? The bone that had already died was colored and tried to pretend to be bloody. Eggs were vulnerable, but they were still hard frailly. There are also people, wood boards, gimmicks, and so on. The screenshots in these lives are very straightforward. Baoxun LI uses paintings to describe his positions, judgments, and logics. Of course, there are also positive solutions and misunderstandings. I think that all points to the peace of mind, like a stone.
Baoxun LI is an artist who doesn’t want to meet and please. He has been paying attention to all kinds of problems. In his widely drawn and unexpected works, the images reveal gloomy, indifferent and seemingly careless. In the face of melancholy, helplessness, and uneasy predicament, people find vaguely lonely, helpless, and hidden struggles, and thus are full of power in the internal examination of image transmission. He shows some insights through the seemingly unintentional expressions of the works, using the title to clarify the path between the viewer and the painting. He can make more appropriate use of narrative, to describe some of the fragments of the current situation, based on the status of people in society, and the recent understanding of the rules and human nature. Those seemingly ordinary and neglected scenes and objects are moved to the screen by Baoxun LI, as if they are suddenly placed in the center of the stage and chasing lights. They stay in their former state, and are made into themes between the cold-handed and impermanent. People, stones, bags, and so on. Each object is silently proclaiming the state of being. It appears to be weak, but it is felt and realized by him. He uses elegant and cold painting to speak for them. From an outside perspective, it seems that only one role conversion has been completed. However, Baoxun LI is good at observing. Using these often overlooked objects, he cleverly and calmly expresses his thoughts on the experience and the reality he sees, as well as his increasingly clear judgments. Some of the phenomena and people that are related or unrelated to him have been remanufactured to complete the re-narration of the painting and the title. With his personal experience and onlookers, he constantly cuts through appearances to the essence and tries to improve his cognitive evolution. By the form of art, he completes the writing of deliberate attention to problems in social clues.
Everything grows vigorously, and I pursue its doctrine.
Yongjin CHEN at Wuhan Painting Academy
June 2018
2003-2007: LUXUN ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, The Dept. of Print Bachelor Degree
2013-2016: LUXUN ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, Waterborne Material Studio, Contemporary Watercolor Study Master of Arts
Teaching at Kede College of Capital Normal University Lecturer
Member of China Artists Association
Member of LiaoNing Artists Association
Member of LiaoNing Youth Artists Association
Personal Exhibition
2018 Between Silence and Saying Author Gallery Beijing, China
2017 OBJECT LAN SPACE Beijing, China
2016 Ended By Order- Li Baoxun Solo Art Works Exhibition
United Art Museum Wuhan,China
2015 Look Over Here- Li Baoxun Solo Art Works Exhibition
Luxun Academy Of Fine Arts Shenyang,China
2015 Bystander- Li Baoxun Solo Paper Art Works Exhibition Xun Art Gallery Beijing, China
2015 The Doubt Shadow - Li BaoXun Solo Exhibition ON Gallery Beijing, China
2014 Come In- Li BaoXun Paper Artworks Solo Exhibition Author Gallery Beijing, China
2013 Li BaoXun Solo Exhibition Dock Sud Gallery France
2011 Overcast to Clear Sky—Li BaoXun Solo Exhibition
Thread Gallery 798, Beijing, China
Joint Exhibition
2018
DÉCALAGE HOUAIRE- Contemporary Young Artists Work
Barbizon Government France Barbizon, France
The 9th Nine-City United Young Artists Art Exhibition
Luxun Academy Of Fine Arts Shenyang,China
Art Beijing China Agricultural Exhibition Center Beijing, China
Paris Art Fair Grand Palais Paris, France
2017
From one end of the world to the other 24B Gallery Paris, France
YOUTH NARRATIVE Contemporary Art By Young Artists of China
Metropolitan Museum Curitiba, Brazil
The 3rd National Youth Watercolor Exhibition Shandong Art Museum Jinan, China
XI’AN Invitation Exhibition of Watercolors & Pastels
XI'AN ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS Xi'an,China
Works created during France residing La Non-Maison, France Provence, France
Affective Space Author Gallery Beijing, China
Paris Art Fair Grand Palais Paris, France
CULTURED SPACES Lan Space Beijing, China
2016
Inter-Youth International painting Exhibition
China Academy of Art Museum Hangzhou, China
The 11th National Watercolor and Pastel Exhibition Shijiazhuang, China
St-art Contemporary Art Fair Strasbourg, France
2016 Annual Luo Zhongli Scholarship Award Exhibition
Sichuan Fine Arts Institute Museum Chongqing, China
The Cologne Exhibition Cologne, Germany
New view point - Chinese Young Artists Exhibition Vietnam
China Contemporary Luxembourg Grand Park Diekirch Museum Tour Luxembourg, France
Chu-Plan Yang Artist Exhibition Shanghai Peninsula Art Museum Shanghai, China
Transience Metro: Scape Shanghai Exhibition Center Shanghai, China
Art Beijing China Agricultural Exhibition Center Beijing, China
Li Baoxun & Bai Luyang Paper Art Works Exhibition Jiedao Art Center Beijing, China
Disorderly Growth Xi Art Space 2016 Spring Salon Exhibition Xi Art Space Wuhan,China
Remanent Time-Dialogue between Li Baoxun & Yaoxiang Author Gallery Beijing, China
Visual Views-Young Artists Art Works Exhibition China Cultural Center In Singapore Singapore
Paris Art Fair Grand Palais Paris, France
Star Project- Art Promotion of Young Artists Tree Art Museum Beijing, China
New Power of LAFA Enjoy Art Museum Beijing, China
2015
The Cologne Exhibition Cologne, Germany
Youth Plus. Young Artist Promotion Project
Museum of Contemporary Art Beijing (MOCA) Beijing, China
Courage and Freedom. Youth Thinker Art Exhibitions
Beijing Art Museum of Imperial City Beijing, China
Artistic Conception Watercolor-Contemporary Watercolor Painting Invitation Exhibition
The Rhythm Art Museum Shanghai, China
Extraordinary Colors –A Contemporary Chinese Watercolor Art Invitational Exhibition
Wu Art Center Beijing, China
Paris Art Fair Grand Palais Paris, France
Lille International Art Fair Lille, France
Unreal Moment - Contemporary Art Exhibition Ruefrancaise Gallery Paris, France
2014
St-art Contemporary Art Fair Strasbourg, France
The Cologne Exhibition Cologne, Germany
The Twelfth National Art Exhibition Comprehensive Material Painting Exhibition
Hebei Museum Shijiazhuang, China
Taipei Youth Art Exhibition Taipei,China
XXL Art Paris and Beijing contemporary art group exhibition ON Gallery Beijing, China
1964-2014 Fifty Years Mutual Understanding and Friendship of French and Chinese- Fifty Chinese
Artists Paris Invitational Exhibition Paris, France
Lille International Art Fai Lille, France
Paris Art Fair Grand Palais Paris, France
Re-present, the Post-80s Chinese Artists Bluerider ART Gallery Taipei,China
2013
Anti Transgene Tong Contemporary Art Beijing, China
St-art Contemporary Art Fair Strasbourg, France
Go On Walking M Gallery 798, Beijing, China
Beyond Style V/A Space 798, Beijing, China
International Art Fair of France Lille Lille, France
2012
Strasbourg Art Fair Strasbourg, France
Art-Frontier Contemporary Art Exhibition SongZhuang Art Gallery Beijing, China
International Art Fair of France Lille Lille, France
2011
Yan Wenliang Art Award, Suzhou Art Museum Annual Exhibition
Suzhou Art Gallery JiangSu, China
Strasbourg Contemporary Art International Fair Strasbourg, France
Contemporary Art New Wave of China Beijing, China and Richmond Ferrie, France
The Affordable Art Fair SunJin Galleries Singapore
Art Archives Of the 80's Generation SongZhuang Art Gallery Beijing, China
The Fifteenth Shanghai Art Fair Shanghai Mart ShangHai, China
Duet --- Chongqing International Art Exhibition YuAo International Art Center ChongQing, China
Cuba Asian Art Museum---China Block Printing Exhibition Havana, Cuba
Awards:
2015
The Second Youth Art Exhibition of Liaoning Province
Oil Painting The Disappearance Of The Sight Gold Award
The Second Youth Art Exhibition of Liaoning Province
Pastel Maintain Sobriety in the Numerous World Silver Award
2014
The Twelfth National Art Exhibition -Liaoning Province Painting Exhibition
Pastel Find Themselves in Perplexity Excellent Award
2016
The Fifth Watercolor and Pastel Painting Exhibition of Liaoning Province
Pastel Twins Excellent Award
2016
The 11th National Watercolor and Pastel Exhibition Membership
2017
The 3rd National Youth Watercolor Exhibition Membership
Collection Agencies:
Chinese Agriculture Exhibition Center
Suzhou Art Museum
Cuba Asian Art Museum
Art Gallery Of Luxun Academy Of Fine Arts
United Art Museum