Dinu Li
‘Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery’
3 July – 5 September 2010
Private View and Book Launch:
Friday 2 July 2010, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Market Place, Cathedral Quarter
Derby DE1 3AS UK
Featuring past, recent and newly commissioned works by QUAD, ‘Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery’ is a solo show by Dinu Li, the UK and China based artist. Li’s exhibition illuminates his continuous research into the structures defining contemporary China’s cultural development. Through a range of mediums; video, animation and performance – Li’s productions teases out the broader readings of a contemporary society seemingly nebulous to its politically turbulent past, and to its current status as a force of ceaseless expansion and consumption.
Oscillating between risk and defiance, rationality and absurdity, Li’s new commission ‘Crescendo (2010)’ is a performance-based video, dealing with the uneasy tension between state-funded propaganda and self-initiated protests. Sharing the title with his solo exhibition, Li’s mini series of colour photographs ‘Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery (2010)’ alludes to a society redefining its aspirations, as it literally ‘paints the town red.’ Preceding these new works, ‘Family Village (2009)’ is a video installation meandering through a world of assembled dreams and a utopian ideal.
Throughout this exhibition, Li draws upon a rich archive of materials including films, drawings, family snapshots, old postcards, and propaganda imagery, to reconstruct a complex world of fantastical imagination, against the backdrop of a historical and political epoch of time.
A fully illustrated publication Dinu Li: Selected Works 2009 – 2010, has been commissioned by QUAD and will be launched during the course of the exhibition. Designed with a DVD showreel, the publication includes new texts by Dr Katie Hill, Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies, University of Westminster, London; and Carol Yinghua Lu, the Beijing based art critic and curator.
Biography
Born in Hong Kong, China, Dinu Li is a UK based artist living in Manchester. Graduating in BA Photography from Liverpool John Moores University in 2001, Li’s practice encompasses the moving and still image. Drawing inspiration from archives, world histories, anecdotes, chance encounters and the figments of imagination, Li’s work is characterised by his interest in our perceptions of authenticity, and the evolution of cultures.
Li’s work has been exhibited internationally including the the 53rd International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2009, 3rd Bucharest Biennale in 2008;
This e-flux is supported by the ArtSway Associates scheme. Dinu Li is an ArtSway Associate.
Complementing ArtSway’s exhibition residency and commissioning programme, ArtSway Associates aims to provide legacy support for a selection of artists who have previously undertaken residencies at ArtSway. ArtSway Associates is ArtSway’s continuing professional development programme for ten artists who have previously undertaken an ArtSway residency. The programme offers critical support, advocacy, training and seed funding for creative activity over three years and is financially supported by The Leverhulme Trust and Arts Council England.
Exhibition Events:
Publication Launch
Friday 2nd July 2010 at 6:30pm. FREE
Launch of the publication Dinu Li: Selected Works 2009 – 2010.
Artist’s Talk
Thursday 2nd September 2010 at 6:30pm. FREE
Dinu Li will be at QUAD to discuss his new and recent work.
For more information, please call the QUAD Box Office on +44(0) 1332 290606 or visit: www.derbyquad.co.uk/whats-on/exhibitions
Gallery opening hours:
Monday – Saturday 11:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday 12pm – 6:00pm
Press contact: Kathy Frain, Marketing Officer, QUAD
T: 01332 285 422
E: kathyf@derbyquad.co.uk
