The Paper learned that the "Mystery of Time - Exhibition of Qu Fengguo's Works" recently opened at the Benyou Art Space in Shanghai. The exhibition focuses on presenting a total of 18 oil paintings by artist Qu Fengguo in recent years, showcasing his creativity and ideological tension in his artistic practice.
In this exhibition, artist Qu Fengguo's works, imbued with visual intensity, invite viewers to contemplate the subtle nature of time. Eschewing traditional brushes, he employs scrapers, transforming the act of painting into a "ritual of time" through the movement of his body, the squeezing and covering of paint. In series such as "Four Seasons," he uses color to symbolize the passage of time—the blue-green of spring, the vermilion of summer, the white-yellow of autumn, and the black of winter. The repetition, superposition, and scraping of lines not only construct forms but also visually condense the experience of time.
Artist Qu Fengguo
Qu Fengguo, born in 1966, graduated from the Stage Design Department of the Shanghai Theatre Academy in 1988. He is currently an associate professor in the Stage Design Department of the Shanghai Theatre Academy. He has been engaged in painting and teaching for over 30 years. He has participated in numerous solo exhibitions and over 100 group exhibitions at museums and galleries both domestically and internationally. His works are collected by the Shanghai Art Museum, the Guangdong Art Museum, the White Rabbit Art Gallery (Sydney), and the Long Art Museum (Shanghai).
2024 Four Seasons Spring 110x160cm
Speaking about the work of artist Qu Fengguo, Huang Changyong, President of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, believes his work demonstrates a profound philosophical understanding and interdisciplinary perspective. This multifaceted and interdisciplinary creative quality is an essential element in the cultivation of contemporary artistic talent. Li Lei, Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Artists Association and Professor at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, systematically analyzed his work from the perspectives of science, philosophy, and art.
2024 Four Seasons Autumn 110x160cm
Professor Sun Zhouxing of Zhejiang University, the academic director of this exhibition, based his philosophical interpretation of Qu Fengguo's work on the philosophical proposition of "The Mystery of Time." In his view, the artist's years of continuous creation inherently contain the experience of the flow of time.
According to the exhibition curator, artist, and Professor Yan Zhilong of the Shanghai Theatre Academy, Qu Fengguo has been deeply engaged in the field of abstract art for many years, and has made a significant contribution to the development of Chinese abstract art with his profound artistic attainments.
Opening ceremony
At the exhibition, artist Qu Fengguo, drawing on his creative practice in the "Four Seasons" series, shared his exploration of the essence of time through the visual construction of color and line. This process is both a meditation on the indescribable and an exploration of the resistance of existence.
It is reported that this exhibition is co-organized by the Visual China Collaborative Innovation Center of the China Academy of Art, the Stage Art Department of the Shanghai Theatre Academy and the ATLATL Dart Innovation Center.
"The Mystery of Time - Qu Fengguo's Works Exhibition"
Exhibition time: October 10, 2025 - December 10, 2025
Exhibition Address: Benyou Art Space (1st Floor, ATLATL Innovation and R&D Center, 1077 Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai)