Abu Dhabi Art 2024: Leo Gallery | Booth M23

Leo Gallery is thrilled to present the works of four diverse artists from different continents at Abu Dhabi Art 2024: Barbara Edelstein, Bian Qing, Liu Ying, and Jorge Meyer at Booth M23. Each artist hails from a distinct cultural background, with their creative processes deeply embedded in their personal experiences and cultural heritage. Through their unique lenses, they explore themes such as the interplay between nature and the world, the intricate dance between culture and identity, and the poignant echoes of memory and nostalgia. This exhibition invites viewers to witness how these artists weave together natural elements, familiar landscapes, and cosmic energies to delve into the complex relationships between people, their homelands, and their environments.

 

Barbara Edelstein, born in Los Angeles, USA, draws on a fascination with nature that stems from her childhood amidst the rolling hills of California, as well as her academic background in biology. Influenced by traditional Chinese painting and Eastern Zen philosophy, Edelstein’swork focuses on depicting natural vegetation. Using ink and rice paper as her primary mediums, she skillfully integrates the Eastern brush technique of “leaving blank space” into her distinct artistic language. Her work seeks to capture the sensory experience of the world, revealing the profound connection between the macrocosm and the microcosm in the philosophy of "To see a world a Bodhi” taught in Buddhism.

 

Bian Qing’s art is anchored in the tradition of Chinese “shanshui” (landscape) painting, yet he pushes beyond conventional boundaries. By deconstructing and reassembling traditional elements through contemporary artistic concepts, he forges a fresh aesthetic realm. In his “Daily Objects” series, Bian Qing reimagines everyday items as “intimate landscapes,” layering various life scenes with a poetic fluidity. His use of yellow and green hues nods to the traditional Chinese paper medium, while his modern oil painting techniques breathe new life into these cultural roots, transforming the intersection of tradition and modernity into a rich visual poetry.

 

Jorge Mayet's works, influenced by his immigrant experience, often convey a poignant sense of displacement. Uprooted trees floating in void spaces evoke a deep sense of homesickness. Mayet yearns for a time when culture and religion have not yet become social and political puppets, longing for old villages that revered natural forces. This profound respect for culture and nature is vividly expressed in his works. Using materials like wires and paper, Mayet recreates scenes of his homeland from memory, representing his cultural identity. Mayet's images of his hometown are presented in miniature landscape restoration installations, which reveal his deep-seated longing and affectionate remembrance of his roots.

 

Liu Ying’s work is deeply inspired by the cosmos and nature, exploring the energies of the universe through abstract painting and seeking to express these unseen forces through a dynamic visual language. Her artworks are charged with explosive energy, vitality, and a sense of healing, reflecting her deep reverence for nature and the cosmos. Through vibrant colors and dynamic compositions, Liu strives to forge a deep connection between the viewer and the universe, inviting them to explore how art can serve as a bridge to understanding the world and perceiving human existence across cultural divides.