Paradiso: Ding Shilun

Galerie Maria Bernheim is pleased to announce the first solo show of Guangzhou-born, London-based artist Ding Shilun. Opening on September 9th, the show is entitled Paradiso. 

Ding Shilun harnesses his heritage, current events and a global history of art to create large and detailed pictorial works depicting the absurdity in society and daily life. His unique concurrence of the mythological, the historical and the ordinary allow the visualized invention of an imaginary world with a representation of himself within our seemingly homogeneous society. In doing so he reflects on our contemporary moment where traditional values fight a progressive spirit, with both impacting our view of reference in equal measure. His work is rooted in pictorial references such as Gustav Klimt or Kai Althoff intertwined with interpretations of Chinese literature whilst creating an entire new set of contemporary mythologies. The nostalgia felt in Shilun‘s intricate works is not only related to an imaginary world, where figures and stories become one, but also in a longing for a world beyond ours. In this tour de force, Shilun presents canvases on a scale unparalleled, where he succeeds in creating a truly unique narrative. Making use of his incredible technical abilities, he is able to channel influences such as Zhang Daqian‘s ethereal landscapes or harness playful elements from traditional Chinese painters such as Qi Baishi whilst creating an inimitable visual imagery. The multifarious textures superimposed with light brushworks force the viewer into a contemplative state whilst every painting seems to tend to the sublime. 

Ding was born in 1998 in Guangzhou, China and is currently working between London and his hometown.
He recently graduated from the Royal College of Art, London, UK, and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, UK, and at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, China.

For further information please contact:

+41 79 700 799 28 / info@mariabernheim.com