TEATIME IN CHINATOWN

6th October – 20th November 2020

Opening: 6th October 2020 h 5-9 pm
From 7th to 15th October: 11 am – 7 pm
From 18th October to 20th November: by appointment

ESH Gallery is pleased to present Teatime in Chinatown, a solo exhibition by Alice Zanin organized under the patronage of the Italy China Foundation.

Remaining faithful to one of the key principles of ESH Gallery, that of promoting the comparison between Eastern and Western art, the artist, through the improvement of the ancient technique of Papier-Mâché, presents a series of surreal sculptures that dialogue with the typical materials of the Far East tradition.

Through an exceptional sculptural work, technically perfect and with an incomparable attention to details, the artist gives life to papier-mâché animals that, while on the one hand are inspired by the decorative motifs of Oriental ceramics, on the other are distinguished by the chromatic games that recall the shades of the ancient materials of the Oriental tradition.

From the grey-green elephants and blue rhinoceroses that evoke the soft shades of Chinese enamels and ceramics, to the flight of red birds like the most precious and rare lacquer found in ancient Korean graves, the artist’s imaginary bestiary takes shape immersed in melancholy memories of childhood and a strong naturalistic interest.

The artist’s research plays on perception, confusing the audience’s senses, staging a choreography of bizarre animals relieved of their weight, elegant figures that float as light as air and as delicate as paper.

Suspended by transparent threads and closed in plexiglass cases, these creatures, majestic and graceful, balanced between illusion and reality, appear as if enchanted to be observed in all their beauty, giving us time to reflect on our relationship with other living beings.

Alice Zanin tries to transform us into the audience of a show that has the ambition to tell a current and fragile reality, trying to make us aware of the impact of man on this planet, striking the consciences in an attempt to find a harmony with nature that has perhaps been lost.

To complete the comparison with Oriental art, ESH Gallery will present a selection of Chinese antiques from private collections.

Self-taught artist, Alice Zanin experienced different means of expression including painting, until she chose to focus almost exclusively on the technique of papier-mâché from the beginning of 2012.

She has held solo and group exhibitions and participated in art fairs in Italy. Her works are part of private Italian and international collections.

Finalist of the Arteam Cup 2016 award, the artist in 2017 was selected among Exibart’s “222 emerging artists to invest in”.

Alice Zanin.Teatime in Chinatown-Press release-ESH Gallery