Whitestone Gallery Beijing has opened its space in 798 Art District on 27 May 2023. Titled “We Love China”, our grand opening exhibition is a powerful expression of Whitestone Gallery’s commitment to spreading love through art and establishing meaningful connections with local art communities. The exhibition unfolds in two parts. The first part focuses on influential members from significant art movements in the post-war era, as well as distinguished artists from the second and the third generations following WWII, and it has ended on 17 June. Starting from 24 June, the second part of the exhibition will showcase works by artists from Gutai, Mono-ha and Minimalism movement, and will also focus on the vibrant vitality and boundless creativity of the new generation of artists.

As a pioneering avant-garde artistic group in the post-war era, Gutai was active from 1950s to 1970s, and it consists of two generations in its own evolution. The first generation of Gutai focused on performance, installation and happening, and the second generation focused on exploring the relationship between painting and space. Shuji Mukai, Yuko Nasaka and Senkichiro Nasaka are artists of the second generation of Gutai, their works are made with unconventional materials, tools and forms. At the same time in New York, another art movement Minimalism emerged, and it still has a profound impact on the art world. Tadaaki Kuwayama and Rakuko Naito who went to the United States at that time, led the trend and practiced Minimalism throughout decades of their work. 

Echoing the ethos of the Gutai movement “do what has never been done before”, artists of later generation embrace unconventional mediums and themes, forging their distinctive artistic identities. Korean artist Soonik Kwon uses layers of oil and graphite, creates works with the theme of time. Yu Kawashima deftly weaves traditional Japanese painting materials into contemporary imagery, infusing each piece with a powerful personal touch. Karen Shiozawa, painting on wooden boards, seeks to evoke images that resonate with profound auditory experiences. Masayuki Tsubota, interested in his exploration of wood as a medium, craft works adorned with evocative colors that tantalize the senses. Both adopting oil on canvas as their medium, Sachiko Kamiki and Yuyelai respectively have unique approach to their narratives, showing their understanding and experience towards life.

On the opening day of the second part of the exhibition, a talk will be held between Yibo Feng, an independent curator and art critic, Mu Xie, Vice President of ArtPro, and Bei Wan, Director of Whitestone Gallery China. They will talk about how Japanese art casts its influence in Asia, as well as the difference in creativity and market of the emerging artists in China and Japan.