Wang Lintong

Xi'an, China

Immeasurable shades of white, grey, and black are the first and immediate impression one would have when viewing Wang Lintong’s work for the very first time. His monochrome paintings, primarily the “white” paintings, with their subtlety of expression and appearance allure the audience to approach and observe from a closer distance. The simplicity of tone strips all unnecessary information from the work, bringing the focus solely onto the imagery, the concept, and the message in each work.

Memories, contradiction, metaphor, and fable intrigue Wang Lintong, and the action of painting is his way of narrating and storytelling. Painting, for as far back as he can remember, brought him nourishment and inspiration, through acute observation of contemporary society and the people within it and himself.

Some of Wang Lintong’s works are social commentary, and some serve as answers to his questions. He is fascinated with using imagery as metaphor; he believes in the efficiency and directness of images in conveying complex ideas and emotions, where words might have failed him. Using metaphor and fable allows him to cut through the thickness of the outer phenomena and reach for the core of meaning without being blunt. The subtle meaning and nuance are embedded within the works.

Born in Shaanxi Province in 1984, Wang Lintong graduated with his BA and MA degrees from the Xi’an Academy of Fine Art in 2006 and 2011. Wang has been a professional artist since his MA graduation. He has been exhibiting at home and aboard since 2007. His recent solo exhibitions include The Visible Thoughts, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai (2022); The Coral Bleaching, Draftsmanship, Cloak and Breeze, Xi’an Art Museum, Xi’an (2021); The Nihility of Mountain, MOU Art, Beijing (2016). His recent selected group exhibitions include Electric Picnic, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai (2021); Yuanzhang Appreciates Stones II, Piao Piao Gallery, Taipei (2021); @riginal: Inter-Youth Painting Exhibition, Art Museum of China Academy of Fine Art, Hangzhou (2019); Meridian: Contemporary Chinese Works on Paper, Volcano Theatre, Swansea Wales, UK (2018); Modern Culture and Art Festival, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi’an (2017); Breaking the Barrier: Xi’an Contemporary Art Exhibition, Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan / Blue Roof Museum, Chengdu (2017). Wang Lintong currently lives and works in Xi’an.

Exhibitions Wang Lintong: Island of Memory June 23, 2023 - July 25, 2023 Wang Lintong: The Visible Thoughts July 25, 2022 - September 30, 2022 Electric Picnic July 24, 2021 - September 08, 2021

36 Works

Stones by the Sea No.1
Wang Lintong

Stones by the Sea No.2
Wang Lintong

Stones by the Sea No.3
Wang Lintong

Garden of Cerberus
Wang Lintong

Secret Garden
Wang Lintong

Garden of Cerberus
Wang Lintong

Looking for Youth
Wang Lintong

Youth in the Evening
Wang Lintong

Youth at Play
Wang Lintong

Praying Youth No.1
Wang Lintong

Praying Youth No.2
Wang Lintong

Youth in the Afternoon
Wang Lintong

A Farmer
Wang Lintong

The Perfect Storm
Wang Lintong

Glimmer
Wang Lintong

The Circuit
Wang Lintong

The Circuit
Wang Lintong

The Outskirts of Fenghua
Wang Lintong

Forest
Wang Lintong

The Disappearing Time
Wang Lintong

Xiazhou
Wang Lintong

Sky
Wang Lintong

Pray
Wang Lintong

Tying Shoes
Wang Lintong

Return to Xiazhou
Wang Lintong

The Attack from Pinocchio
Wang Lintong

Wilderness No.1
Wang Lintong

Wilderness No.2
Wang Lintong

Wilderness No.3
Wang Lintong

Secret No.1
Wang Lintong

Secret No.2
Wang Lintong

Afternoon
Wang Lintong

Candle
Wang Lintong

Bang
Wang Lintong

Cloak and Breeze No.2
Wang Lintong

Cloak and Breeze No.1
Wang Lintong

CV

BORN

1984 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China

EDUCATION

2011
MA, Oil Painting Department, Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts

2006
BA, Art Education Department, Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts

Solo Exhibitions

2022
The Visible Thoughts, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai

2021
Coral Bleaching, Draftsmanship, Cloak and Breeze, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an

2016
The Nihility of Mountain, MOU Art, Beijing

Selected Group Exhibitions

2021
Electric Picnic, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
Yuanzhang Appreciates Stones II, Piao Piao Gallery, Taipei

2019
Art Xiamen, Xiamen, Fujian Province
Garden, MOU Art, Beijing
@riginal: Inter-Youth Painting exhibition, CAA Art Museum, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

2018
Redefining the City with Context - Beyond the Wall, Xi'an Contemporary Art Exhibition, Xian Art Museum, Xi'an
Meridian: Contemporary Chinese Works on Paper, Volcano Theatre, Swansea Wales, UK
Garden - Earthly Delights, MOU Art, Beijing
Modern Culture and Art Festival, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi'an

2017
Breaking the Barrier: Xi'an Contemporary Art Exhibition, Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan, Hubei Province; Blue Roof Museum of Chengdu, Chengdu
Modern Culture and Art Festival, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi'an

2016
Moving Art Project, Xi'an Art Museum, Gong Art Space, Xi'an

2015
Sino-German Art Exhibition, Tangyan City Art Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
Young Artists Experiment Project, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an
A Nostalgia of Contemporary Asia, Banpo International Art Zone, Xi'an
Plateau•Plateau: 4th Oil Painting Exhibition of Western China, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi'an

2014
Seeking Differences while Reserving Similarities, Gong Art Space, Xi'an
Showcases Project 1: Artist vs. Curator, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an
Chang'an Departure: Xi'an Young Artist Exhibition, Shaanxi Province Art Museum , Xi'an
Art World: Seoul Art Impression (group exhibition by 8 artists) , Xi'an Art Museum，Xi'an

2013
Art World Project by Xi'an Art Museum and BRIGHT Magazine, Seoul, Korea
What Should Happen will Happen: Xi'an Contemporary Art Exhibition, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province

2012
Plateau•Plateau: 2nd Oil Painting Exhibition of Western China, Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Xi'an
China-Korea Art Exchange Exhibition, Heyri Art Village, Paju, Korea

2011
China-Korea Art Exchange Exhibition, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province

2009
2nd Occurring Art Exhibition, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province

2008
1st Occurring Art Exhibition, Tang City Wall Ruins Park, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province
Art of China Painting Exhibition, Museo Della Permanente, Milan, Italy

2007
Start from Here: Shanghai Youth Art Biennale, Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai

Artist Residency

2019
Power Long Artist Residency, Hechuan, Chongqing