ZHENG Guogu: Photographic works
(till Jan 24, daily 10am-7pm)
The exhibition is an overview of Zheng Guogu's photographic works since 1996 (Zheng Guogu's 'calligraphy' works were presented at ShanghART last year). The current show includes pieces from the following series: 'The 10'000 customers', 'Tokyo Sky Stories', 'Canton Flowers', 'Sun Shine', 'The Young Man's Most Ideal Bride' and 'Yang Jiang Youth'.
A comprehensive catalogue on Zheng Guogu's work will be available in late spring.
"Zheng belongs to a generation, which grew up with Coca-Cola, Kung Fu movies, pop music, and TV games. Different from those older generation in the uncertainty of Cultural Revolution of the 70s, and in the optimistic Utopia of the 80s, there is no ideology and idealization among this new generation."
"Through his camera, he tells us a new story about real life, imagination, dream, and enjoyment of the youth".
"With a simple camera, he recorded the life of his peer group with pictures, which reflect those people who are confused by the uncertainty of reality and unreality, as well as the new thoughts appearing around them". (Hou Hanru)
"Zheng has developed a unique vocabulary to express the dreams and secrets of the youth of South-China". (Chen Tong)
"The breakthrough in altering attitudes (towards the use of photography in Chinese art) was wrought by Zheng Guogu whose series on 'The Life of the Youth in Yangjiang', begun 1995, validated play-acting to the hilt.....
Exploiting local responses in deliberately obvious parodies of dressing up and grown-up make-believe, Zheng Guogu relayed the narrative of his stories through negative-sized contact prints placed in rows on a single sheet of paper like a story board for a film.
Cruel mockery was made to appear as heaps of fun.... The practice of using multiple images to complete one work created rhythmic flows that reinforced the farce of the romp...
1990s Chinese art played with racy topics in a syncopated fashion, groomed and combined for immediate impact, a momentary jerk of emotion and a lingering nod to the grey matter that never quite explained itself. Zheng Guogu's photography was ahead of itself and his work inspired a bevy of followers dedicated to youthful fantasy...(Karen Smith)
Zheng Guogu, born 1970, lives and works in Yang Jiang, Guangdong Province.
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| Zheng Guogu Consumerism is more enjoyable, 6/12 photo 97 x 60 cm 1997-1998 zgg11 |
Zheng Guogu A World view digital image, 1/1 photo 94.5 x 58 cm 2001 zgg16 |
Zheng Guogu Canton 21 flowers happy blossoming, 1/2 photo 78 x 61 cm 2000 zgg18 |
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| Zheng Guogu Ten Thousand Customers, 1/1 photo, series of 10,000 87 x 58 cm 1997-1998 zgg12 |
Zheng Guogu Ten Thousand Customers, 1/1 photo, series of 10,000 87 x 58 cm 1997-1998 zgg13 |
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| Zheng Guogu Ten Thousand Customers, 1/1 photo, series of 10,000 87 x 58 cm 1997-1998 zgg14 |
Zheng Guogu Ten Thousand Customers, 1/1 photo, series of 10,000 87 x 58 cm 1997-1998 zgg15 |
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| Zheng Guogu The Young Man is the best, ideal for Bride, 1/1 photo 108.5 x 61 cm 1999 zgg17 |
Zheng Guogu Sun Shine 3, 4/10 photo 102 x 61 cm 1998 zgg19 |
Zheng Guogu Sun Shine 2, 4/10 photo 61 x 99 cm 1998 zgg20 |
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| Zheng Guogu Ten thousand customers 69, 1/1 photo 61 x 101 cm 2002 zgg21 |
Zheng Guogu Ten thousand customers 70, 1/1 photo 61 x 101 cm 2002 zgg22 |
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| Zheng Guogu Show Off 9/15 photo 61 x 108.5 cm 2000 zgg23 |
Zheng Guogu You could see doll actting everywhere 4/9 photo 92 x 58 cm 1999 zgg24 |
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| Zheng Guogu Tokyo sky story 1, 3/6 photo 61 x 95 cm 1998 zgg25 |
Zheng Guogu Tokyo sky story 2, 2/6 photo 61 x 93.5 cm 1998 zgg26 |
Zheng Guogu Tokyo sky story 4, 3/6 photo 93.5 x 61 cm 1998 zgg27 |
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| Zheng Guogu Tokyo sky story 9, 2/6 photo 61 x 93.5 cm 1998 zgg28 |
Zheng Guogu Tokyo sky story 10, 1/6 photo 61 x 94.5 cm 1998 zgg29 |
Zheng Guogu Tokyo sky story 11, 1/6 photo 61 x 91 cm 1998 zgg30 |
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| Zheng Guogu Yang Jiang Youth 1, 2/5 photo 61 x 94.5 cm 1996 zgg31 |
Zheng Guogu Yang Jiang Youth 7, 2/5 photo 61 x 93.5 cm 1996 zgg33 |
Zheng Guogu Yang Jiang Youth 8, 2/5 photo 61 x 93.5 cm 1996 zgg34 |
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Please also visit the following pages:
Zheng Guogu, Chen Zaiyan, Sha Yeya, Sun Qingling Calligraphy Page
"Are you going to enjoy calligraphy or measure blood pressure?"
