Bio:
Simon Zhang is living and working in Toronto. He has held a number of solo exhibitions and has participated in many group shows and art fairs. His artworks are in private collections by patrons from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the USA, and have also been auctioned by Neumeister in Germany, 2011 and Christie's in the UK, 2001. He has a diploma in environmental design from the Ontario College of Art and Design and a B.A. degree in stage design. He has worked as a designer in the international architectural / interior design firms in Toronto and Hong Kong for many years.
AUCTIONS:
EXHIBITION LIST IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Simon Zhang is living and working in Toronto. He has held a number of solo exhibitions and has participated in many group shows and art fairs. His artworks are in private collections by patrons from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the USA, and have also been auctioned by Neumeister in Germany, 2011 and Christie's in the UK, 2001. He has a diploma in environmental design from the Ontario College of Art and Design and a B.A. degree in stage design. He has worked as a designer in the international architectural / interior design firms in Toronto and Hong Kong for many years.
AUCTIONS:
- An oil painting was auctioned by Neumeister, Germany, 2011
- 2 Ink and Water Color paintings were auctioned by Christie, UK, 2001
EXHIBITION LIST IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
About Simon's Work:
Through years of exploration, Simon uses techniques that combine traditional ink, rice paper, and modern materials like acrylic to try to develop a mixed-media expression method and style.
The method is called the "Paralleled Process,” which includes a three-stage process of “Two Surfaces, Selections, and Merge." The base acrylic paint layer on the canvas and the ink patterns on rice paper are parallelly prepared in a spontaneous, impulsive, and gestural manner. Then part of the ink painting is selected, torn, and shaped into the canvas to allow the ink collages and colour canvas to collide, mingle, and fuse. The dialogue between them often brings surprising beauty and drama from the accidental and magical combinations of different elements. On the other hand, the weight of brushstrokes, the movement of lines and shapes, the intensity of textures and colors—all these elements are carefully manipulated and controlled. Whereas to retain these painterly elements generated from emotions and keep the vitality as much as possible while still giving the structure and complexity of the painting what it deserves, a 'Zen'-like creation process is applied to balance the subconscious and thoughts, impulse and contemplation, action, and meditation.
The above subjective psychological process of painting reflects the significance of the modernity of these works. On the other layer of meaning, the ink elements set against modern acrylics are reminiscent of ancient calligraphy and even the art of stone carving. More broadly, these abstract paintings in mixed media are Simon's unique attempts to develop a visual interpretation of tradition and modernity, East and West.
Through years of exploration, Simon uses techniques that combine traditional ink, rice paper, and modern materials like acrylic to try to develop a mixed-media expression method and style.
The method is called the "Paralleled Process,” which includes a three-stage process of “Two Surfaces, Selections, and Merge." The base acrylic paint layer on the canvas and the ink patterns on rice paper are parallelly prepared in a spontaneous, impulsive, and gestural manner. Then part of the ink painting is selected, torn, and shaped into the canvas to allow the ink collages and colour canvas to collide, mingle, and fuse. The dialogue between them often brings surprising beauty and drama from the accidental and magical combinations of different elements. On the other hand, the weight of brushstrokes, the movement of lines and shapes, the intensity of textures and colors—all these elements are carefully manipulated and controlled. Whereas to retain these painterly elements generated from emotions and keep the vitality as much as possible while still giving the structure and complexity of the painting what it deserves, a 'Zen'-like creation process is applied to balance the subconscious and thoughts, impulse and contemplation, action, and meditation.
The above subjective psychological process of painting reflects the significance of the modernity of these works. On the other layer of meaning, the ink elements set against modern acrylics are reminiscent of ancient calligraphy and even the art of stone carving. More broadly, these abstract paintings in mixed media are Simon's unique attempts to develop a visual interpretation of tradition and modernity, East and West.