Dongxu Shi: Fleeting Moments
Artist Dongxu Shi paints his surroundings; from busy city streets, to people engaging in candid conversations. Mesmerized by the happenings of everyday life, Donxu depicts these familiar, fleeting moments in his ongoing series of work.
Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.
I am a professional artist, majoring in oil painting in college. After working in a gallery for several years, I was admitted to the School of Oil Painting in Chinese National Academy of Arts in 2013.
I have been in love with painting since childhood and kept the habit of painting whenever I have time. During my study in college, I concentrated on practicing painting skills and fundamental techniques like modeling and coloring, instead of creating. Once I entered the art world after graduation, I began to feel the pressure as well as the power from life and therefore the direction of my works transferred to the vivid people around me, whose living status and life experiences are what I intend to depict.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
The reality is coarse but full of meanings. The primary focus of an artist is the contemporary life that nourishes my art and provides with me abundant inspirations. I am interested in and eager to express how various changes take place in the contemporary world every day.
How has your work shifted and evolved over time?
Years before I was only fascinated by beautiful colors or interesting things which would stimulate my creative desire. With time went on, I began to be absorbed in the philosophy under the phenomena of life. I believe that my attitudes towards life and time will change as time flows and this change will be reflected on the painting canvas.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?
I usually arrive at my studio at around 9:00 in the morning and then read some materials or pictures on news or arts. Once I come across particularly interesting points or have strong creative desire, I will immediately write it down or grab my brushes to paint.
I have a little anxiety before painting but once I am immersed in painting I will be whole-heartedly dedicated. Painting for me is also a challenge of physical power. I like to depict my subjects in one vigorous effort so I barely take a break during the painting process. If I have extremely high status, I will paint even longer.
I normally have lunch at the studio so that I do not have to go out, which saves some time. I take a one-hour break after lunch and continue painting in the afternoon. I finish my work at around 5 p.m. and return home.
Painting is a process of fighting. Although it can be physically demanding, I try my best to adjust my status, keep the pace and encourage myself to be emotionally charged during the painting.
How has your art practice grown and changed?
My answer is to fully enjoy life and painting. Life keeps changing and so does the life experiences of artists, which will lead the direction of painting. Time, of course, will also leave its various deposits on the painting canvas.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Any life experience influences my occupation. In other words, my work is a present from life. More specifically, I would say traveling has strong impacts. I really enjoy walking outside and experiencing other people’s lives in different places. This distinction and sense of alienation help me directly find impulses of painting.
How has Instagram impacted your art career?
Instagram takes me to see diverse arts and lives all around the world. Meanwhile I can upload my own works for people to see. This way I receive numerous information and enhance my thinking from all kinds of comments on my paintings. All in all, Instagram broadens my horizon and propels my progress through communication with one another.
Lots of people follow me on Instagram. It was on Instagram that I met the well-known curator Heinz-Norbert Jock. Also, fans and galleries who show interest in my paintings have increased.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
I hope that my works will be more influential and more friends from the world will see my paintings. I also hope that I keep being an observer and recorder of the contemporary life, depicting the unpredictability of time with my brushes.
Follow Dongxu Shi on Instagram: shidongxuart