[Taipei, Taiwan, China] ‘Decimal Point Dropped on the Way’ Solo Exhibition by Xu Ruiqian

Shuangfang Art Gallery is honored to invite Xu Ruiqian to present a solo exhibition titled ‘De[...]

Shuangfang Art Gallery is honored to invite Xu Ruiqian to present a solo exhibition titled ‘Decimal Point Dropped on the Way’ from December 7, 2024 to January 24, 2025. This exhibition is the first cooperation in the form of a solo exhibition with Shuangfang Art Gallery after the group exhibition ‘Clues 2023’ in 2023. More than ten sculptures will be on display. Xu Ruiqian takes materials and objects as the core to explore the new relationship between matter and behavior. With his consistent minimalist approach, he uses industrial materials such as stainless steel, gypsum, cloth, and aluminum to present simple contours and geometric compositions. By using the layout and morphological transformation of materials, he challenges the reinterpretation of materials and space, and at the same time prompts the audience to think about their relative relationship with objects in space. Through creation, he responds to the changes that occur in matter after being touched and moved and further explores the spirituality of matter. The exhibition title ‘Decimal Point Dropped on the Way’ shows Xu Ruiqian’s profound reflection on uncertainty and flexible space in life, symbolizing a process and state of continuous change and reconstruction that moves freely between ‘fixed points’. For the artist, materials and objects are like the falling ‘decimal points’ wandering in space, symbolizing the fragments and uncertainties in life. These materials are given dynamic roles and move and piece together freely in flexible space, like scattered fragments, challenging the rigor of integer norms. The ‘Sponge Notes’ series of works uses stainless steel-cast sponge blocks, whetstones, gypsum blocks, steel bars, and cloth to form geometric structures displayed in horizontal and vertical extensions, as if exploring the tension and balance in space, emphasizing the contrast and interaction between artificial materials and natural elements. The work ‘Arc’ uses iron, aluminum, and stainless steel for a simple and soft line arc extension and is displayed on a flat metal base, creating a sense of balance between movement and stillness. The black metal pipe and the smooth metal plate form a strong visual contrast, prompting the viewer to feel a strong tension and compression in the serene appearance, as if the object may move at any time in space. The exhibition venue materializes the elastic observation of matter and space, allowing viewers to perceive the interaction between objects and materials, and carefully observe their forms and surface treatments. The textured surface is like a sharp incision or a flexible pore. They are like fragmented moments in life. There is no continuity or clear reference between them, but they all become witnesses of time and action. Through the proportional relationship with the works, one can feel the force of each part and experience how materials undergo cutting, damage, compression, and release. The sounds and traces left by objects guide the viewer to re-examine the way matter exists in silence. Even if only the original material remains, the display of traces endows it with deep stories and emotions.
The exhibition ‘The Decimal Point Dropped on the Way’ delves into themes of time, movement, and inspiration, showcasing the artist’s profound understanding of the changes and reconstructions in life. Guiding the creation with physical perception, the artist intervenes in the environment, observing, deconstructing, transforming, and reconstructing with meticulous attention. This process presents multiple possibilities between the artwork, the viewer, and the space, prompting a reexamination of the relationship between material and action. The pieces are assembled like fragments, recording the uncertainties of life and leaving traces in transition, leading the viewer on a journey interwoven with reality and illusion. This journey allows the experience of the fragility and tension of materials, as well as the underlying deep meanings in creation and life. The exhibition is open from December 7th to January 24th.