Escape from convention
A Chinese artist's flirtation with oil paint, ceramics and ink has been a deft exercise to avoid being pigeon-holed, he tells Lin Qi.
A solo exhibition is meant to showcase one's artistic achievements. Chinese artist Bai Ming, however, views his individual show now on display in Paris as a channel to share with the viewers his confusion throughout his career. The 49-year-old's debut at the Musee Cernuschi (or the Museum of the Asian Arts of Paris), with a display of 41 works, is dedicated to his three-decade explorations in three mediums: oil paint, ceramics and ink.
"I work with different artistic forms to escape and relax. When I get stuck with one art, I turn to the other for salvation," says Bai, an associate professor of ceramic design with Beijing-based Tsinghua University.
