Pan Jian: All the Way Back to the End of the Light

ART LABOR Gallery is delighted to present Pan Jian’s second solo exhibition at our gallery. Titled “All the Way Back to the End of the Light,” this exhibition runs from November 2nd to December 8th, 2024.

Four years after Pan Jian’s inaugural solo exhibition at the gallery in 2020, we are thrilled to present a new exhibition that showcases his continued exploration and experimentation over the past few years. The exhibition features selected works from three distinct series: “Lightning’s Edge,” “Fire Rainbow,” and “Aurora Fireworks.“

While each series offers a unique visual presentation and creative technique, they collectively embody the artist’s enduring investigation into the nature of light. Pan Jian’s study of light is multifaceted. Intellectually, he delves into the scientific and physical properties of light, integrating this knowledge into his artistic practice. Artistically, he draws inspiration from the Romantic master Turner as well as the Impressionists, extending this further with influence from the rich tradition of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints. Through extensive reading and years of dedicated research on classic artworks, Pan Jian has cultivated a perspective and understanding of light of his own. In practice, he brings this understanding into his paintings, seeking his own expression of light through a dialogue with the painting medium and his inner self.

As Turner famously stated, “I am more concerned about the light than the subject.” This philosophy is evident in Pan Jian’s evolution from early works to recent creations, where he increasingly embraces abstraction, allowing the concrete representation of subjects to recede in favor of exploring light, luminosity, and shadow. The introduction of silk screen techniques and bold color choices has further enhanced the visual tension and expressiveness of his pieces. This transformation not only reflects the artist’s relentless pursuit of creative boundaries and his adventurous spirit but also serves as a profound exploration of essence through outward expression.

Born in 1975 in Shandong Province, Pan Jian graduated in 2001 from the Oil Painting Department of Xi’an Academy of Fine Art, and where, since graduation, he still teaches to this day. He has been exhibiting extensively at home and abroad since 2002. His selected recent solo exhibitions include: All the Way Back to the End of Light, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai, China (2024); Rainbow Vaporwave, East Gallery, Nanjing, China (2023); Fire Rainbows, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong, China (2023); Evolution, Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, China (2021); Lightning’s Edge,10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong, China (2021); Pan Jian: Those Which Illuminate, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai (2020); Seeing the Forest Through the Brush, Triumph Gallery, Beijing (2018); Light of the Troposphere, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong (2017); Shadow of Light, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong (2015). His selected group exhibitions include: Shanghai Calling, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai, China (2024); Touch of Wind, Linda Gallery, Beijing, China (2022); Mindscapes, HOFA Gallery, London, UK (2021); The Curation Workshop II, OCAT Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China (2020); Pan Jian & Gao Weigang – Amber, OCAT, Xi’an (2019); Mapping the City: A Vision of History and Xi’an, OCAT, Xi’an (2018); Quotidian, Pearl Lam Galleries, Shanghai (2016). Pan Jian’s important collections include: Uli Sigg Collection (Switzerland), Yuz Museum (Indonesia), DSL Collection (France), Burger Collection (Switzerland), M+ Museum (Hong Kong). Pan Jian is based in Beijing.