Zhang He
Through a dynamic language of abstraction, Zhang’s oil paintings convey a visceral engagement with the surrounding natural environment while evoking the depth of human emotions. With a calligraphic execution, his bold and gestural brushstrokes demonstrate a unique physicality and spontaneity, which resonate with early influences of Abstract Expressionism and the Automatistes Movement. The luscious colors and rich textures dictate each composition by accentuating its inherent physicality, and in doing so, add a sculptural quality to the painting.
Every artist has their artistic inspirations rooted in the Masters. For Zhang, the Automoatistes and Abstract Expressionists are close to his beginnings. Other inspirations include Helen Frakenthaler, Chaim Soutine, and Egon Schiele.
While the expressiveness of his painterly strokes makes a statement of their own, Zhang is not deliberating creating the physical appeal of texture; rather, this multi-layered process is an integral element of his work to achieve an overall state of equilibrium on canvas: between positive and negative spaces, the thick and thin, and contrasting color tones, etc. For the artist, the very act of breaking existing compositional patterns is particularly challenging yet essential, in order to achieve a harmonious formulation of movement and thought. As such, Zhang engages in the ongoing art historical dialogue to push further the boundaries of abstract painting. Ultimately, he seeks to evoke a fundamental state of existence through an intimate encounter with nature, life in all of its forms, and the plethora of human emotions. Each work is an intuitive process and they all depend on how feelings come to the artist. Zhang paints with the canvas flat on the floor which is where the dialogue for him begins.
Recent Artwork
Video Interviews
Artist Information
Artist Website:
https://www.artistzhanghe.com
Zhang He (b. 1963, Shenyang, China) obtained a Bachelors in Painting from the Lu Xun Art Academy (Shenyang, China). He has been part of several international exhibitions in the last two decades, including the Florence Biennale (Italy), the National Gallery of Thailand (Thailand), Art Toronto, Art Palm Beach and Art Bejing. Zhang has been featured in numerous publications including: Vie des Arts, Canadian Art, and Parcours. First arriving in Vancouver in 1997, Zhang currently lives and works in Montreal.
Zhang He
Residence: Montreal, Quebec
Born: 1963, Shenyang, China
Education
Bachelor of Painting from the Lu Xun Art Academy, Shenyang, China
Selected Solo and Group Exhibitions
2022 25thAnniversary Group Exhibition, Kostuik Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2020 Galerie Z Art Space, Pictura, Montreal, QC
2020 Galerie de Bellefeuille,Montreal, QC
2019 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2016 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2015 Galerie Z Art Space, Pictura, Montreal, QC
2011 Gallery DeNovo, Ketchum, ID
2011 International Biennale Artists Show, LuminArte Gallery, Dallas, TX
2011 Chinese Artist Contemporary Arts Exhibition, Thailand National Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
2011 International Art Meeting Collective Art Show, Florence, Italy
2010 International Biennale Artist, Miami, FL
2010 Nina Torres Fine Art Gallery, Miami, FL
2010 Il Palaclo Gipsoteca Libero Museum Andreottl, Pescla, Italy
2010 John Scotti Jaguar-Land Rover: New Model Exhibition, Montreal, QC
2009 Artbank Gallery, Beijing, China
2008 Luxun Art Institute, Shenyang, China
2008 Galerie d’Este, Montreal, QC
2008 Sunshine Art Museum, Beijing, China
2008 Art Westmount, Montreal, QC
2008 Shanghai High Noon Art & Culture Centre, Shanghai, China
2007 Odon Wagner Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2007 Galerie Galerie Pangee, Montreal, QC
2007 Galerie d’Este, Montreal, QC
2006 Elliott Louis Gallery Canadian Fine Art, Vancouver, BC
2003 HAN Art, Montreal, QC
2002 Gallery DeNovo, Ketchum, ID
Selected Public and Private Collections
IACO International Aviation Corp, Montreal, QC
Pfiffner Management, Montreal, QC & Zurich, CH
Lise Watier Interantional, Montreal, QC & Paris, FR
Monit International, Montreal, QC
Hot & Spicy Inc., Canada & China
L’EQUIPE Uomo Montreal, QC
Ta Yu Association
Bertrand Deslauriers, Bureau des Avocats
Association du Nouveau Monde, Hong Kong
Studio Verstile Itee Inc. Montreal, QC
Graphic Design Studio Paul Tom Inc. Montreal, QC
Howard Szalavetz Properties, Montreal, QC
Comark Securities Inc., Toronto
Elements, Toronto, ON
HYI Architecte, Montreal, QC
International Biennales and Fairs
Florence Biennale, Italy
Art Toronto, Canada
Art Palm Beach, USA
Art Beijing, China
National Gallery of Thailand
Harmony of Movement and Thought – Haute Magazine – Jan, 2023
1070 Homer Street,
Vancouver, BC, V6B 2W9, Canada
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