Zan Wang
Zan Wang is an artist deeply engaged in the exploration of memory, trace, and the dynamics of perception. Her practice is characterized by a delicate interplay between forms and colors, materiality, and the layers of meaning embedded in each piece. "My artistic style is deeply rooted in the exploration of materiality and layering," she explains. Each of her works serves as a meditative reflection on how we perceive, remember, and experience the passage of time.
A Delicate Interplay of Forms and Colors
Zan’s work is marked by a delicate cubist influence, where multiple perspectives converge through geometric shapes and a monochromatic color palette. "The unseen forces and processes behind each piece are as integral as the visible outcomes," she notes. This approach creates a complex visual narrative where images and forms seem to emerge and recede, much like memories that fade and resurface over time.
Her use of multi-layered material introduces a mural-like, ethereal quality to her paintings. "Images emerge and recede into the background, mirroring the fleeting nature of memory and thought," Zan describes. This technique captures subtle traces and shadows, echoing the style of traditional murals while infusing it with a contemporary sensitivity to environmental and temporal elements.
Multiplicity and Palimpsest
Multiplicity and palimpsest are crucial to Zan’s visual vocabulary. "Each painting is constructed as a complex layering of materials and meanings, reminiscent of a palimpsest," she explains. In her work, old images and meanings are overlaid with new ones, without completely erasing the past. This layering results in a rich, textured surface that invites close examination and multiple interpretations, reflecting the complexity of human experience and perception.
Zan primarily works with mixed media such as plants, ash, paper, pulp, sand, and traditional media like oil and acrylic. "I use these materials to capture light sensation through dense material, creating a tangible record of ephemeral interactions," she says. Her artworks are large in scale, typically measuring 1.5 meters by 2 meters, evoking the grandeur and immersive quality of traditional Chinese hand-scroll paintings.
Exploring Memory and Time
The earthy, malleable medium reemerges in Zan’s work, particularly through her exploration of urban and natural landscapes. "Working on hand-made textured canvas helps me investigate the relationship between memory and time," she explains. Her paintings are steeped in earthy tones and historical references, illuminating contemporary life through the lens of the past. "For me, painting is a way of thinking, a method to give new understanding to any event, past or present," she adds.
In her studio, Zan meticulously arranges sketches, cut figures, and collages, laying them out as if on a web before deconstructing and reconstructing them. "The process of linking things together, sensing the materials, and making paintings excites me," she says. For her, this process is akin to erosion and reconstruction—a conversation between herself and the possibilities of form. "A shape proposes a question, and I respond," she reflects.
Painting as Deep Respiration
Zan compares painting to deep respiration—an inertial, primitive, deep breathing pattern that carries memories, emotions, and desires. "This deep pure memory of intimate connection guides me to grab the shape from chaos and perceive it in memory," she explains. Her work is an ongoing dialogue between these varied influences and the materials she uses. Each piece becomes a palimpsest of cultural, historical, and personal narratives, inviting viewers to delve into a multi-layered experience of discovery and reflection through memory.
As Zan Wang continues to explore and expand her artistic practice, her work remains a powerful meditation on the complexities of memory and perception. Through her meticulous layering of materials and meanings, she creates art that invites viewers to engage deeply with the echoes of the past and the fleeting nature of the present.
