Shanghai ‘Feng Zhixuan: Lost at Sea’ Exhibition

How do we navigate amidst the flux of the stars, land, and oceans? And how do we regain autonomy wit[...]

How do we navigate amidst the flux of the stars, land, and oceans? And how do we regain autonomy within the material objects of animal specimens, industrial materials, and the physical body? Feng Zhixuan’s solo exhibition ‘Lost at Sea’ questions the tension between contemporary geopolitics and individual experiences with a decentered perspective that blurs geographical boundaries and the subject-object dichotomy.

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The exhibition places the body within a seemingly constant yet dynamic geographical framework, emphasizing the body’s fragility and limitations: terrains marked and depicted are reimagined as seas and mountains through artificial imprinting and overlay, yet the body continues to reshape the order of three-dimensional and horizontal space; the functionality of hydrofoil boards and their formation into a fleet-like arrangement reflect the dual aspects of geopolitics and consumerism; street lamps, narwhal tusk fossils, and palm trees highlight the individual’s perception of geographical forces and the body’s experience within, through the imitation of nature by industrial technology.

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The continuity of time and the permanence of matter are disrupted here, revealing the interplay of the body and technology, capital in contemporary society. Feng Zhixuan’s artistic creations utilize industrial casting techniques, fiberglass, traditional Chinese medicine, and ready-made objects to reconstruct a specimen-like natural form and scene. Sports equipment, inspired by biology, gains functionality and interacts with the body. On this level, warships and military equipment are also a manifestation of power’s control over geographical space and the invasion of the body. By juxtaposing plants, archaeological elements, and industrial production materials, Feng Zhixuan fabricates traces of material history in his creations, revealing the contradictions and vulnerabilities of individuals under technological dependence. We are but lost at sea in the world of matter and symbols.

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The exhibition is open from November 4th to January 4th, Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00-18:00. The specific business status is subject to the daily opening conditions.