As part of his direct and conceptual approach to painting, Liu writes and draws in a journal and takes photographs before building a temporary studio in-situ, in order to paint en plein air or ‘xiesheng’ as it is known in Chinese. While each venue, dubbed Green Pub, White Pub and Egyptian Restaurant for the purposes of these paintings, are all within striking distance of one another – hardly more than half a street away from the gallery as per his title– their subjects are distinct in tenor and timbre. Liu’s portraits range from the two couples who run the pubs –who hail variously from American, West Indian, Polish and French backgrounds – to a gesticulating toddler, a dog and a fancy-dress cowboy. The empty upstairs room of the Egyptian restaurant adds further contrast, hinting not only at the space’s alternate use as a meeting room, but at complications encountered in the painting of such cultural sensitive environment, as well as obliquely referencing ongoing political uncertainty in the Middle East. Liu says, “My only goal is to confront people and see them as they really are” and the artist’s immersive method of individual and collective portraiture results in pieces that have participatory and performative dimensions, while their scale often matches that of film making, an activity Liu is well versed in, having previously worked as an actor in Wang Xiaoshuai’s acclaimed The Days (1993), or else as producer and subject of award-winning documentaries about his own practice. Liu’s London residency has been documented by celebrated filmmaker Sophie Fiennes,whose complementary portrait of the artist at work will also be on display in the gallery.
Liu Xiaodong (b.1963, China)
Green pub 6, 2013
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BLOUIN ARTINFO (Online), January 24 2018
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Tiroche DeLeon Collection, Artist Spotlight: Liu Xiaodong
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Liu Xiaodong "Half Street" at Lisson Gallery, London
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Paul Casciato and Minnie Brookfield / Reuters, London, Painting from life
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Wang Yiquan, Q&A: Liu Xiaodong Paints in Local Pubs for London Show
Blouin Artinfo (Online), September 16, 2013
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