“LIVING CREATURE” Open Exhibition Review

Solo Exhibition of Chinese-Icelandic Artist Fía Yang - "Living Creature" is opened recently at WINNERS GALLERY. As the first Chinese artist represented by WINNERS GALLERY, this exhibition features 15 of her representative artworks. Fía draws inspiration from the pristine landscapes of Iceland. Her art is an exploration of self-discovery, confronting fears, and embracing liberation, forging an intimate connection with viewers on a personal level. She seamlessly blends the bold strokes of traditional Chinese calligraphy with her instinctual movements, guided by an intimate connection to her physical presence. This improvisational method allows her to liberate her mind and body, accessing the internal currents of creativity. While painting remains her primary medium, she explores diverse artistic outlets, including filmmaking, performance, and music, enriching her artistic expression. For Fía, creating is more than a pursuit—it's a way of life. Embodying the mantra "I live to create," she believes that true fulfilment is found in embracing life itself, transcending the constraints of certainty. 

 "Living Creature" is Fía Yang’s first solo exhibition in China. Living in Iceland, an island resembling the primordial Earth, Fía holds a deep reverence for the raw and wild natural landscapes there. She combines her experiences of living abroad with elements of nature, conveying the intimate connection between herself and the environment through extraction, abstraction, and reconstruction. Her artworks emphasize the interdependence and symbiotic relationship between living beings and the natural environment. She engages in spontaneous improvisation directly on the canvas, infusing each brushstroke with a yearning for self-discovery and liberation. This process allows her to shed mental restraints, confront her inner self, and freely explore and experience the essence of existence.In terms of materials, Fía skillfully preserves the original texture of linen canvas, organically blending acrylic, ink, limestone powder, wool, and other mediums, creating a rustic atmosphere that returns to simplicity. In her works, we can seemingly perceive the collision and innovation between the flowing brushstrokes of traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy and the primal energy of Iceland.The exhibition space is divided into three main themes: "Living Creature," "Are we?" and "Burning Desire." Fía will guide you into a realm full of poetry and philosophy, allowing you to experience the transformation and fusion between your inner self and the external environment. 

  For Fía, creating is more than a pursuit—it's a way of life. Embodying the mantra "I live to create," she believes that true fulfilment is found in embracing life itself, transcending the constraints of certainty.

Fía Yang (b.1988, Changsha, China), she currently lives and works in Iceland

Recent exhibition by Fía Yang include: "Kollegar", Group show, Gallery Port, Reykjavik, Iceland, (2023) ; "White Box", Group show, Flæði, Reykjavik, Iceland, (2023) ; "Eve Presents #3", Group show, Eve Leibe Gallery, London, UK, (2023) ; "Public Private", Group show, Newwave Space, Reykjavik, Iceland (2023) ; "Last Minute", Group show, Cicek Gallery, London, UK, (2023) ; "Politics of Charm", Group show, Cicek Gallery, London, UK, (2022).  Fía engaged in the BAAR art residency program in Berlin. Her work is featured in the BITHOUSE Projects Collection and held by private collectors in Europe and Asia.