Flourishing Spirits

Xu Jiang’s central subject is sunflowers. These plants, which always turn their blossoms towards the sun, have become for the artist a symbol of an entire generation: a generation that is faced with the need for re-orientation, having been shaped by coming to terms with historical upheaval. His It is possible for them to live together is an 8-metre-high field of sunflowers. Xu-Jiang’s sunflowers were featured at documenta (13) in Kassel, Germany in 2012. The work of the artist Shi Hui appears much more delicate in comparison. From the beginning it has dealt with the subject of nature by treating sculptures as soft, flowing forms and integrating plant elements such as encyclopaedias of flora. In their dialogue both artists reflect on the concept of spirit as developed in German philosophy.