Zhuang Hong Yi

Zhuang Hong Yi, born in China in 1962, has emerged as one of China's most influential contemporary artists. His work is characterized by the dominant motif of flowers, which hold great significance in Chinese culture and resonate strongly with associations in the Netherlands, where he studied and established his career. Zhuang Hong Yi devotes meticulous attention and dedication to exploring this subject matter year after year, crafting intricate and thoughtfully composed artworks.

His renowned and highly sought-after series, known as Flowerbeds, consists of delicate pieces of painted rice paper that he bends and folds into hundreds of tiny buds, resulting in  tactile creations. In his latest collection, Zhuang Hong Yi has further developed his technique by incorporating dual and triple colors that subtly shift from one dominant hue to another. The movement and visual tactility of the artworks come to life as viewers shift their bodies and gaze from one side of the piece to the other. Through the use of traditional Chinese material, rice paper, the works represent Chinese aesthetics and offer meditations on color, nature, and form, emphasizing technique and uniformity—a reflection of the artist's training at the Sichuan College of Fine Arts.

Zhuang Hong Yi's painted canvases reveal the influence of Impressionism and other Western artistic practices. Liberated from the confines of his native country's established artistic traditions, he employs a free and expressive style, utilizing impasto brushstrokes with bold, vibrant colors. The colors merge together, and paint drips down the canvas, interweaving with delicate unfolded rice paper flowers. The sculptural three-dimensionality of his artworks blurs the line between painting and object. Embracing messiness, variety, and chance, his works draw viewers in, encouraging contemplation as they immerse themselves in a rich tapestry of color and form.

Based in the Netherlands, Zhuang Hong Yi combines his Chinese background with the influences of European art, reflecting a personal struggle to define his identity between these two cultures. Balancing elements of controlled planning, emotional expression, and meticulous editing, his works embody beauty, sophistication, and a quest for perfection. Zhuang Hong Yi studied at the Sichuan College of Fine Arts in China and further honed his technique at the Minerva Academy in Groningen, the Netherlands. His artworks have been exhibited extensively throughout Europe and China, and they reside in numerous prestigious public and private collections worldwide. The Groninger Museum in the Netherlands has also hosted multiple museum exhibitions dedicated to his work.