Unmask is an art group consisting of three artists, who have different perspectives of art, but who feed off each other, debate and make concessions until a unique logic is accepted by all of them. It makes them different from other artists as they place greater emphasis on individuality and coexistence, which are the foundation of their cooperation. This also allows for greater flexibility when implementing an artistic process and enables all of them to exert their specific talents. Subconsciously they are reluctant to make a clear distinction between art and design, but they are fully aware that the intrinsic value of artworks does not completely rely on aesthetical forms. Sometimes they determine a theme, before considering any forms and in other series like in the “Transparency Series” they formulate design logic before gaining an expected result through continuous validation. The fashionable elements in their works help convey their intention and express their emotion. However the human form, including both the body and its social status, is the key element of their artworks. Influenced by their research into classical Chinese and Western sculpture but at the same time striving for their vision of the “human”, they started to conceive every human as a mini universe. In their 2006 “Transparency Series” they used their own body characteristics to create human forms like classical sculpture and then purposely deleted the redundant parts, including gender and ethnic identity, by removing the defects of the sculpture in a two-dimensional way.
Finally they got some varied and fragile bodies with internal and external parts that corresponded to each other. Putting these bodies randomly in a certain space formed an environment which was unbalanced, delicate and highly unexpected. In their latest “ 0° Degree Series” humanoid creatures gather in a void space, forming an isolated and virtual ecosystem, surrounded by a shell that shapes the panorama but is also a way of creating self-protection. The self-containing space is isolated from, if not contradictory to the outside world, forming an independent and virtual environment. The impact of globalization is slow but steady on Unmask. It is represented in the virtual look of their works, but is also present in every aspect of their lives.
Education
2011
Unmask, H.T Gallery, Tang Contemporary, Bangkok, Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China
Shopping-Unmask Solo Exhibition, Tang Contemporary Art Hong Kong, HK(solo)
Extract the 3rd Stall Keeper Show, C5 Art, Beijing
Beyond Art Space@Art Stage Singapore 2011, Suntec Singapore
2010
Beyond Fashion, 1st crossover between young chinese fashion designers, Beyond Art Space, Beijing
Invisible Wings, Times Art Museum, Beijing
Shopping-Unmask Solo Exhibition, Tang Contemporary Art Hong Kong, HK
Negotiations – The Second Today’s Documents 2010, Today Art Museum, Beijing
Beyond Art Space@Art Taipei Art Fair 2010
Aura Gallery @Young Art Paipei 2010, Sunworld Dynasty Hotel
Commit- The 2nd Stall Keeper Show, C5 Art, Beijiing
Filter Window, Young Chinese Exhibition, Beyond Art Space, Beijing
Attitude, Linda Gallery, Singapore
12% Design, Micheal Ku Gallery, Beijing
Aura Gallery@Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
Inaugural Exhibiton
Enliven- in between realities and fiction: Animamix Biennial
Shopping- Unmask 2010
Enliven – In Between Realities and Fiction – Animamix Biennial 2009-2010, Today Art Museum, Beijing
Flash Memory, H.T Gallery, Beijing
The 4th “Design for Sitting” Competition Winners & “40 Chairs from International Designers” Exhibition, Sanlitun Village, Beijing
60 70 80 – China Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tours Castle Museum of Art, France
Beyond Art Space@Sh Contemporary 09, Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai
The Market Summer 2009 – In the Making, Beijing Center for the Arts, Beijing
Posture Language, New Age Gallery, Beijing
Rave Forum, Li-SPACE, Beijing
Originaire – Installation Exhibition, Deshan Art Space, Beijing
– Unmask 2009, Beyond Art Space(solo)
Unmask(solo)
Super Toy
Beyond Globalization
Far West, Arnolfini Art Center, Bristol, UK, Turner Contemporary, Kent, UK2008 Waiting in the Wings, Beyond Art Space, Beijing2008 Art Basel, Switzerland2008 Facing Reality, National Art Museum of China,
Beijing2008 China design now, V&A Museum, London2008 A Vista of
Perspective, The Sixth Shenzhen Contemporary Sculpture Exhibition