Zheng Chongbin: Clusters of Memory

Artist Zheng Chongbin has become renowned for his paintings that subtly reference, while moving outside the bounds of, the historical continuum of Chinese ink art. In his first major solo exhibition at a U.S. institution, Asia Society Texas Center presents Zheng’s paintings and for the first time, a large sculptural installation which responds to the Center’s unique architecture as a larger macrocosm. The exhibition runs through July 8, 2018.

With a deep grounding in both Chinese and Western philosophies, Zheng’s works examine themes of time and memory, and their cumulative effects on both humanity and the natural world. His belief that the world is in constant flux, consisting of matter that is forever cohering and dissipating, informs both his paintings and his process. “My intention,” says Zheng, “is to investigate the logic of the ink medium and its perceptual characteristics, the alternation between transcendence and the materiality of the work.” He applies black ink of varying consistencies to sheets of Xuan paper (made from sandalwood fiber), in a manner that allows the ink to bloom and flow organically. The resulting works resemble natural structures such as fractals, neurons, blood vessels, tree branches, rivers, and coastlines.

While maintaining his commitment to painting, Zheng has increasingly worked in other forms of art, including conceptual explorations in sound and video. At Asia Society Texas Center, he will debut a new multi-planar installation suspended throughout the Fayez Sarofim Grand Hall. “Bringing Zheng’s work to Houston is the fulfillment of a long-held goal for us,” says Bridget Bray, Nancy C. Allen Curator and Director of Exhibitions. “His boundary-defying works challenge and captivate viewers with references across the fields of art, science, and philosophy.”

The exhibition is organized by Asia Society Texas Center and curated by Bridget Bray.

Exhibitions at Asia Society Texas Center are presented by Wells Fargo. The China Series is presented by East West Bank. Major support comes from Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Nancy C. Allen, Leslie and Brad Bucher, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, and the Anchorage Foundation. Generous funding also provided by The Clayton Fund, Kathy and Glen Gondo, Ann Wales, and through contributions from the Friends the Asia Society, a premier group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing exceptional exhibitions and programming to Asia Society Texas Center. Additional support is provided by INK studio, Beijing.