Shooting stars

Entitled Origin Point, the Star Group's retrospective exhibition at the Today Art Museum reunites nearly 20 of its original members. The non-official artists' group, established in Beijing in the late 1970s, was regarded as the home of contemporary art in China after the "cultural revolution" (1966-76). It was renowned for its pursuit of free self-expression, experimental style, and significant exhibitions.

Modern styles can be found among the oil paintings, ink and wash, prints and sculptures. Song Hong's portraits are filled with distinctively bordered color blocks and the execution of light and shade transmits the effect of Neo-plasticism style.

Huang Rui's print series featuring nude bodies delineate overlapping images with three-dimensional viewing angles, strongly suggesting the Cubism style. And Wang Keping's wood and bronze sculptures, neglecting the depiction of the details of the subject matter, transmit a flavor of Fauvism.

Traditional touches and aesthetics can also be read from some works. Female artist Shao Fei's Life of An Artist uses vase flowers as the foreground object and the self-portrait mistily presented at the background. The crisscross pattern of strokes tends to fragment the outlines, creating a free composition. Blue and green dominating the frame transmits a kind of romantic tone.

This exhibition collects nearly 100 works created before 1985 by members of the group. They show the art movement of that special period of time and review this movement from a contemporary angle. These works also serve to question the development of contemporary art with a historical gesture and reflect the origin and the metropolitan territory of Chinese art of nowadays.

Venue: Today Art Museum, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District
Opening hours: 9 am-4 pm, Nov 19-29
Tel: 010-5876-9690.