Coming Exhibition at Fair “Mirrors and Shadows”
A special curated exhibition “Mirrors and Shadows 镜与影 “ will be presented at 2024 Art The Hague – Oooit Art Booth No.30.
Date: 2-6 October 2024
Address: Fokker Terminal, Binckhorstlaan 249, 2516 BB Den Haag, the Netherlands
Website: www.artthehague.nl
Artists: Stefan Annerel, Du Rongkun 杜荣坤, Tomas Hillebrand, Krista Israel, Jiang Wei 姜维， Jiang Zhaojin 蒋曌锦, Barbara Nanning, Zhai Xuanhong 翟轩弘
In Western literature and art, mirrors are often used as tools to explore self-awareness and identity. In Greek mythology, Narcissus died due to his obsession with his reflection in the water. Sometimes mirrors are also used to reveal truth or create illusions. In Eastern culture, mirrors symbolize personal reflection and introspection. Both Buddhist and ancient Chinese sages often reference the phrase “the mind is like a clear mirror, observing all things in stillness,” symbolizing a kind of insight that allows one to see the essence of everything. In Western literature and art, shadows often symbolize the hidden aspects of truth. In Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave,” prisoners can only see the shadows on the wall, not the actual objects, with shadows representing people’s misunderstanding of truth and the limitations of their knowledge. Shadows also often symbolize conflicts and complexities hidden beneath the surface. In Eastern art and philosophy, shadows represent “yin,” while light symbolizes “yang.” This yin-yang relationship reflects Eastern philosophy’s understanding of nature, emphasizing the coexistence and complementarity of opposing forces. Often shadows also symbolize impermanence and change.
The symbolic meaning of mirrors and shadows in Western and Eastern art reflects the different philosophies and worldviews of these cultures. Through the representation of mirrors and shadows, both Western and Eastern art seek to understand human perception of self, the world, and the essence of life. At the Hague Art Fair, we have curated a special exhibition titled “Mirrors and Shadows.” These works are created by several artists represented by Oooit Art, from the Netherlands, China, and Belgium. The pieces are rich in narrative and visual tension, including painting, sculpture, mixed media, and light-based installation works. This exhibition stimulates introspection and outward insight, using our visual senses to explore the reality and illusion.
In Tomas’ work, the mirror is hidden behind a hemispherical transparent glass, and the changes in the surrounding environment and light create a continuous dynamic effect. In Xuanhong’s backlit painting installation, the shadows shift between the roles of subject and object due to changes in light. Stefan’s work seals away fragments of complex life and memories, layered and fleeting, while the surface remains as calm as a lake. Zhaojin’s mixed media work uses denim collage and traditional Chinese painting techniques, presenting two landscapes as mirror images of each other. Barbara’s work uses highly specialized glass materials, creating dramatically different light and color effects under varying light conditions. Jiang Wei’s work is titled “Boundary,” where the illusory reflection and the real object merge seamlessly, symbolizing the absence of boundaries. Krista’s work is full of tension; it appears delicate and fragile, yet is extremely soft and resilient. In Rongkun’s work, the worlds of reality and illusion coexist simultaneously, following each other like shadows.
