luzhen qui at hatch art
Searching the Innerland
"Searching the Innerland" is Qiu's ongoing pursuit which focuses on her Chinese background. By juxtaposing fragments of memories from her childhood, Chinese traditional fabric textiles, old Chinese legends, and fragments from Chinese vases, she aims to tell stories about childhood fantasies. The works are collage, monotypes, paintings, and drawings, using color pencils, ink, oils, and acrylics on layers of mylar to give a sense of depth.”
This bold memoir surprised as Qui traditionally produces ethereal landscapes floated with representational mystical elements. This background curls and folds with an opaque tangerine center spiraling out in a goldenrod staccato anchored by a cleanly painted bright red grid.
Sail Away’s brushwork remains schmeared and loose with heavy blacks that generate mood as well as depth. Orangey red demarcations soften, some an expressive gestural swipe down the page. Qui employs similar hues across the exhibition while varying values altering the tenor of each piece.
In accord with what is customary for this artist, details melt into the vague, blurry environment. Upon close inspection, the surface shimmers with soft glitter. Not sure if that’s natural to the medium or rice paper.
Qui steps way out of her comfort zone in this daring installation that reads Anselm Keifer but more organized in a steady, even rhythm. Collaged edges contribute to subtle lattice turning red only briefly before sinking back into shadow.
Visual cadence advances and shifts from whisper to wail, triumph and mourning describing the collective human emotional life experience. If only on paper, we can hold onto childhood dreams allowing their sparkle to resonate throughout our journey.
"These are my joys and sorrows at the moment, my dreams and hopes... It is the harbor of my soul, a pure land for me in the troubled world." –Luzhen Qui
On view through November 3rd at Hatch Art 3456 Evaline Hamtramck
*images are mine
direct quote from gallery materials
A quick word before I let you go. If you’re one of the people paying to support my writing, you’re already doing more than enough to help out. But if you’ve got $5/mo you absolutely wouldn’t miss, it would make a noticeable difference to me. Thank you!
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