MINE PROJECT is pleased to present the solo exhibition, “Interrupted Dream”, by Chinese artist Xiong Jiaxiang (b.1991, Shanghai, China). Curated by Zhang Chen, this exhibition features the artist’s latest installations and sculptures and creates a physical space to reach the intricacy between reality and virtuality while attempting to interrupt the temporary dreams constructed on the massive image production today. It is the artist’s first solo exhibition as well as the first exhibition with the gallery.

Viewing imagery as the medium, dragging and fracturing as the gesture, Xiong thermal transfers the virtual images shot by phones or screenshots on computers onto elastic fabric, and, in turn, places the distorted images into everyday scenes to capture, reprint and distort them anew. The repetition constructs the dialectics between virtuality and reality, revealing the various discrepancies embedded in image production and consumption. In his recent sculptures, the dialogue between the two grows into an even more complicated context. Through a publicly well-known image research engine of Taobao, an absurd connection has been established between an up-side-down red portrait and works of Francis Bacon. Concerning only the external similarity, the algorithm bypasses the internal logic in reality; nonetheless, on the other hand, the massive data and the strict calculation seem to be conferring a sense of authority on the result. The consequent contradiction does not only inspire the artist to work on his recent Triptychs (2020-2022), but also contributes to the possibility for him to further transfer the virtual, online image production into real, concrete sculptures.

Gallery address: 202, The Factory, 1 Yip Fat Street, Wong Chuk Hang