Capsule Shanghai is pleased to present Chinese artist Tao Siqi’s (b. 1994, Wuhan, China) solo project “Possession” in the Focus section of Frieze New York, showcasing a new group of paintings developed based on the artist’s reflection on the anthology Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil) by French poet Charles Baudelaire (1821 – 1867).
Dealing with themes of eroticism, obsession, loss of innocence, morbidity and suffering, Baudelaire’s poetry uncovers the beauty of sins to contemplate the complexity of human existence. Likewise, Tao’s painting over the past few years forms a survey of human emotions and desires through subjects of lust, intimacy, dependency, violence and destruction. Her empathetic depiction of what is conventionally considered sins and decadence challenges pre-existing notions of vice and virtue, redefining taboo and erotica as prisms of our physical and psychological existence.
Tao’s delicate brushwork and distinctive viewpoint of close-ups capture vignettes of aching tenderness and titillating brutality. Characteristic of her recent works, florescent and saturated hues dominate the canvas, elevating the subjects from realistic representation and luring viewers into her realm of fluid sensations.
Expanding on her on-going practice, the new body of works traces Baudelaire’s despairing search for beauty and innocence in a metropolis of grotesqueness and immorality, and inspect the struggles and paradoxes of emotional longing and bodily experiences in the contemporary context.
As an artist known for making modestly-sized paintings, Tao Siqi, for the first time, works on a large-scale canvas to accomplish more ambitious and intricate visual narratives. The booth is designed to evoke a complexity of sensory and emotional responses. The central wall is framed by two pieces of soft-metal mesh curtains. Two vertical paintings on this wall are supported by stainless-steel arms that create a tension between constraint and extension. In the center of the booth, a free-standing installation engages viewers in an alternative way of experiencing a painting. Soft leather coaches and carpet reminiscent of animal fur juxtapose the coldness and solidity of metal with warmth and softness, inviting the viewer into an immersive sensory experience.
