Immerse yourself in Zhou Li's 'Rose of Light'

Shenzhen artist Zhou Li’s exhibition titles always evoke the essence of her lyrical abstract paintings, from “Lost in Green” at the Guangdong Museum of Art in 2020 to “Tracing Peach Blossom Spring” at the Pingshan Art Museum in 2022 and “Water and Dreams” at Château La Coste in France and the Kerlin Gallery in Ireland in 2022, to name a few.

Now, the artist has brought her new exhibition — “Rose of Light,” curated by Sun Dongdong, at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning. The exhibition’s title, “Rose of Light,” draws inspiration from Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke’s French-language poem of the same name. Similar to Rilke, whose contemplations on life and destiny found expression through the metaphor of a rose, Zhou’s exhibition aims to offer viewers a glimpse into her artistic journey, featuring works created from 2001 to 2023.

Visitors admire Zhou Li’s painting “Dust No. 4: Rose of Light” (2023) at the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning. Photos by Cao Zhen

Using a diverse range of mixed media including oil paint and ink washes, Zhou’s abstract paintings capture her keen sensory perceptions of the world, expressing play between light and shadow, solidity and dissolution, and a profound sense of existence. Against backgrounds of pink, black, blue, or green, her free-flowing lines form delicate, layered scenes that seem to float in space, following intricate compositional arrangements extending beyond the canvas.

At the exhibition, Zhou’s dreamlike paintings are meticulously placed in white spaces, each section curated to evoke different emotions and experiences. The first section invites you to observe her paintings created in the 2000s, hung in a manner that gives the feeling of observing the world from windows.

Visitors observe Zhou Li’s painting “Night No. 3” (2023).

The second part features a sculpture surrounded by Zhou’s paintings created in 2023. This grand space, with a bright ceiling, creates the sensation of being in a bright garden. The third section showcases several blue paintings, offering a serene atmosphere. The final part concludes with a display of Zhou’s paintings created from 2001 to 2023, symbolizing new beginnings or life cycles.

Zhou Li’s painting “Dust No. 2” (2023).

According to Yan Weixin, director of the Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning, he hopes viewers can get a fresh perspective on Zhou’s art within this specially designed exhibition. Meanwhile, the exhibition marks the launch of the museum’s series featuring local artists’ works, showcasing the museum’s commitment to fostering Shenzhen’s art development through exhibitions, academic research and collections.

Zhou Li’s painting “Blue Lovers No. 1” (2016).

Graduating from the Department of Oil Painting of the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 1991, Zhou possesses a rich artistic background, having worked in France from 1995 to 2003. She currently serves as a guest professor at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, holds the position of director of No. 5 Studio in the academy’s Department of Oil Painting and serves as an academic committee member of the Pingshan Art Museum.

Visitors wander in Zhou Li’s exhibition. 

Dates: Through March 13

Tickets: 35-50 yuan

Reservations: WeChat account “深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆”

Venue: Shenzhen Museum of Contemporary Art and Urban Planning, Futian District (深圳市当代艺术与城市规划馆)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit A2