gdm Hong Kong is pleased to present Wu Shan, a solo exhibition showcasing a selection of the artist's lacquer paintings and ink works created between 2012 and 2025. As a leading figure in contemporary lacquer art in China, Wu Shan has been deeply engaged in a long-term exploration of the visual language of lacquer. Wu regards lacquer as a medium of profound cultural significance and conceptual depth. Through repeated layering and the sedimentation of time, his works reveal intricate paths of emotion and thought, taking form in tangible shapes.
In his most recent practice, Wu draws inspiration from Kunqu operas. As the oldest form of Chinese opera, Kunqu is characterized by the bamboo flute, with the small gong marking the rhythm. Its intricate and lyrical melodies, together with delicate movements and harmonious interplay of elements, resonate with Wu's refined language of line. Entitling his works after theatre repertoire, Wu inviting viewers to engage with the work's rhythm through their own associations. Resembling the pauses and tonal turns of Kunqu, Wu's paintings convey a sense of restraint and subtlety, revealing underlying emotion and tension beneath their quiet surfaces.
In an age of information overload and fast-paced rhythms, Wu responds with minimalism. His approach to life is reflected in the lightness and refinement of his lines, evoking an inner restraint and a meditative state of self-withdrawal. Through continual reduction, he eliminates excess, retaining only essential forms and emotions. Within the layered surfaces of lacquer, his lines and colors remain still yet resolute, embodying a spiritual practice that stands in opposition to the accelerated rhythm of contemporary life. For Wu, minimalism is not only a visual language but also a way of life, seeking to convey the deepest perceptions through the fewest means, transforming his lived experience into a visually refined expression, both pure and powerful.
