Yang Kai

北

京

德

薩

畫

廊

De sarthe gallery - Beijing

YANG KAI 楊 凱

北 京 德 薩 畫 廊 De sarthe gallery - Beijing

The exhibition presents many so-called “shadows” of a supposed individual. On this occasion, the various identities that are all known as Yang Kai come together to explore the idea of a “social existence.” Together, they present different (suspicious) materials and objects that provide evidence of their existence. Akin to a hypnotic state of mind, these shadows continue to create new topics to feed a larger narrative, inviting the viewers to transport themselves away from their trivial daily lives and move towards an idealized parallel universe. These virtual identities newly formed by the artist ignite within the audience an inner desire to reconsider the way one views his/her own world. It emphasizes the dialectic of what we consider real and what we consider virtual: we are sometimes passively seduced away from reality just as we also use pieces of our virtual identity to stimulate our real lives.

The artworks presented by these “shadows” represent the marks they “carelessly” left in real life. In response to a contemporary condition, this performance assertively and irrefutably examines how we invent a self-image in the eyes of others so as to guarantee ourselves a genuine and immortal happiness.

ARTWORKS

Love Becasue Love 2013 Ink on rice paper 110 x 75 cm

i-D 2012 Ink drawing on paper 105 x 79 cm

Ripened Fruit Drawing 2016 Ink drawing on silk, acrylic 84 x 122 cm

VOGUE 2012 Ink drawing on paper 112 x 81 cm

Selfie 2016 Polaroid paper, mixed media 45 x 45 cm

BIOGRAPHY

YANG KAI Currently lives and works in Beijing, London

EDUCATION Graduated from the University for the Creative Arts specializing in Fine Arts (formerly Kent Institute of Art & Design) SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2016 Yang Kai, de Sarthe Gallery - Beijing, Beijing, China 2015 Double Vision, The Fringe Club, Hong Kong, China 2014 In-Between, Parkview Green Art, Shanghai, China 2014 In-Between, Parkview Green Art, Beijing, China GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2016 Inheritances: The Language in Contemporary Art – Parkview Green Art Festival 2016, Parkview Green Art, Beijing, China N.A.I.C., Commune by the Great Wall – Shared House, Beijing, China Breathe – Invitation Exhibition of Contemporary Sculptures, Nanjing Museum, Nanjing, China The China Collective, Yintai Centre – Lane Crawford, Beijing, China

2015 INK ASIA 201, HKCEC, Hong Kong, China The Progress of Space Body Type, Greenland Center, Beijing, China 11th Paratissima Art Fair – Chinese Pavilion, Turin, Italy Between Us, GRAND SPACE, Beijing, China Fat Choi, Gland/A307/NCAF/Sinceren Art Center, Beijing, China Parkview Blue, Parkview Green Art, Beijing, China On Sharks and Humanity, National Museum of China, Beijing, China 2014 A New Context Derived from Shuimo, Sishang Art Museum, Beijing, China 2013 Art Taipei – Parkview Green Art, Taipei, Taiwan 2012 Creative Cities Collection Exhibition, Barbican Centre, London, United Kingdom “SHOWCASE-CITIES” Exhibition, Rich Mix Art Space, London, United Kingdom 2011 Limkokwing, University of Creative Technology Exhibition, London, United Kingdom The First Principle Exhibition, The Gallery in Cook Street, London, United Kingdom Declaration of Independence, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China

Published on the occasion of de Sarthe Project Space - Beijing exhibition:

YANG KAI

November 19 - December 18, 2016

de sarthe beijinG - Project space 北京市朝陽區草場地藝術區328-d 328-d, Caochangdi, Chaoyang District, 100015 Beijing, China T. +86 010-84182441 | E. beijing@desarthe.com www.desarthe.com Catalog: © 2016 de Sarthe Gallery - Beijing © Yang Kai Design: Willis Lam, de Sarthe Gallery

北 京 德 薩 畫 廊 De sarthe gallery - Beijing