SIMPLE GIFTS
8th July, 2022- 31st July, 2022
Yidi Art is delighted to commence the gallery by presenting “Simple Gifts”, a solo exhibition of Cheng Zhe debuting more than 20 works from his “My Little Girl” series from 8 - 31 July, 2022.
With his newly painted series “My Little Girl”, Cheng Zhe is excited to share the reignited sense of affection and hope with his art. Despite the 2019 Pandemic profoundly affecting lives on a global scale, Cheng Zhe found meaning and inspiration from his 4-year-old daughter, thus creating his latest series “My Little Girl” during the grim crisis. The artist admitted to the hardships of the pandemic's significant impacts early on that threw his career, livelihood, and future into uncertainty. Fortunately, isolation has brought him the opportunity to spend quality time with his daughter. She became his muse as he enjoyed playing and working with her in his studio.
“Every morning I see her glowing smile; every evening I see the stars sparkle in her eyes. It is her curiosity and happiness that took me out of the darkness.”
—Cheng Zhe, 2022
“My Little Girl” is a contrariety from the artist the former relative pessimistic theme. The apparent shift to optimism is observable in the style of his new paintings. The rich colors in the girl’s dreamy eyes coupled with sketch-like drawings by oil pastels and clean acrylic paintings are Cheng Zhe created harmony and balance to emit the essence of innocence and hope.
“Simple Gifts” is named after the Christian folk song by Joseph Brackett, 1848, for the lyrics resonate with the artist’s recent creation. While the underlying concept of “Simple Gifts” is centered on the simple compassion and joy of a daughter to her father, Cheng Zhe wishes his works to aspire to his audiences the innocent heart of a child within themselves. Echoing his Christianity, the “little girl” on his canvases projects not just his daughter, but also the emblem of great love, kindness, and mercy. These are “simple gifts” anyone is capable of giving and can be obtained by anyone who desires to, endowing power to move forward in life despite all odds.
