Hong Kong May 9, 2008—Cang Xin is mostly known for his tongue, having licked thousand of objects for what he believes can enable the transfer of his spirit with the object’s spirit. 10 Chancery Lane Gallery will show a brand new series of works from his Today Art Museum exhibition entitled, Cang Xin’s Mythology.
Cang Xin’s new work aims at recreating the kinetic energy produced by the five elements—metal, water, wood fire and earth. Based on the priniciples regulating the primitive religions of nomadic tribes and hunters, this work annihilates the borderline separating nature and mankind being filled with a feeling of spirituality generated by humanistic values and humanistic worldviews. The exhibition of all new works incorporates video, sculpture and photography redefining Cang Xin’s work into an era dominated by virtual images.
The artist in this exhibition uses different media to express his artistic language, providing the most intellectually-stimulating situations of contemporary art. The different media all have a metaphoric meaning and symbolism as is the basis behind all of Cang Xin’s work since the early ‘90’s when he was one of the East Beijing Village artists along with Ai Wei Wei, Ma Liuming, Rong Rong and Inri.
At the root of all Cang Xin’s work is his Shamanistic belief. He clearly defines Shamanism to be, “… not related to religion. It is magical.” Thus, the title of the exhibition, ‘Mythology’, invites the viewer into the magical and highly bizarre world of Cang Xin’s work. Sculptures of animals morphed into plants, a digital video of Cang Xin as a tribesman growing horns, digital photography of Cang Xin as the creator and the destroyer of all life all take the viewer into another world of exploration. A world beyond worlds that seems both futuristic and primitive.
The exhibition opens in the presence of the artist on May 9, 2008 from 6:30-9:00 at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery-Central and the exhibition runs until May 31, 2008.