Biography
Shi Guowei (1977, Luoyang, Henan) currently lives and works in Beijing. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in photography from the Department of Visual Communication at the Tsinghua University Academy of Arts & Design (the former Central Academy of Art and Design) in 2002, and he received his master’s degree in photography from the Fachhochschule Dortmund in 2006.
Shi Guowei further adapts the traditional photo-coloring process into a two-tiered structure, which means his process is neither capturing the fact as photography nor a creation out of nothing as painting. By re-coding the objectivity of original image with the colored layer with transparency, his work partitions the world into two layers: reality and perception. In this way, the artist attempts to negate the unique interpretation of a past fact, and illustrate manipulation is occurring right before our eyes. Despite the images as established facts are always visible, entirely different facts could be fabricated by a mere reconstruction of the object’s textures using color layers. Shi Guowei names these unreal phenomena that descend upon reality as authentic illusion: sensory actions that re-initiate emotions based on each image. By this, he intends to interrupt the logic of reality with a configuration of color layers.
Shi Guowei’s solo exhibition include: Shi Guowei: 2021-2023, Magician Space, Beijing, China (2023); The Drawn Out Moment, Shanghai Center of Photography (SCoP), Shanghai, China (2021); A Walk in the Woods, Magician Space, Beijing, China (2019); Crossing Four Girls Mountain, Magician Space, Beijing, China (2016).
Selected group exhibition: SIGG : Chinese Contemporary Art from the Sigg Collection, SONGEUN Art Space, Seoul (2023); The First Beijing Biennial, National Base for International Cultural Trade, Beijing (2022); ReBirth- Encounter with Nature, Choi Center, Cloud House, Beijing (2022); Exuberance is Beauty, Song Art, Beijing (2021); The Curation Workshop II: Story and Structure, OCT Art&Design Galler, Shenzhen (2020); Among the Trees, Hayward Gallery, London (2020); Chinese Whispers: Recent Art from the Sigg Collection, MAK Museum Vienna, Vienna (2019); Changjiang International Photography and Video Biennale, Chongqing (2017); Nature: A Subjective Place, Shanghai Center of Photography (SCoP), Shanghai (2016); Don’t Shoot The Painter, Galleriad’ Arte Moderna Milano (2015); The Civil Power, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing (2015); The Bright Eye of the Universe, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York (2015); Made in China, London (2013); The 6th Chengdu Biennale, Chengdu (2013); Pop Sensation from the UBS Art Collection, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong (2012); China: Memories & Imagination, Albemarle Gallery, London (2011); Dimplom-Arbeiten Dortmund Photography Exhibition, Germany (2006).
His works are collected by M+, White Rabbit Gallery, UBS, National Gallery of Victoria , SCoP, Yan Du Foudation, De Ying Foudation, KADIST, BY ART MATTERS, Beijing Sevenstar Electronics etc.
Bibliography
Shi Guowei
Currently lives and works in Beijing, China.
1977 Born in Luoyang, Henan Province, China
2002 Graduated from Photography in Upholster Department, Academy of Arts & Design Tsinghua University (Originally Central Design & Art College)
2006 Obtained master’s degree in Photography Institute of Dortmund FH University
Solo Exhibitions
2023 2021-2023, Magician Space, Beijing, CN
2021 The Drawn Out Moment, Shanghai Center of Photography, Shanghai, CN
2019 A Walkin the Woods, Magician Space, Beijing, CN
2016 Crossing Four Girls Mountain, Magician Space, Beijing, CN
2014 Shi Guowei Solo Exhibition, SZ Art Center, Beijing, CN
2010 What Year Is It Today, In-Shine Gallery, Beijing, CN
2008 Old Stories, Contemporary Retellings, Cetus Gallery, Shanghai, CN
Group Exhibitions
2024 Art Within Reach II, APSMUSEUM, Shanghai, CN
2023 SIGG : Chinese Contemporary Art from the Sigg Collection, SONGEUN Art Space, Seoul, KR
2022 2022Beijing Biennial, National Base for International Trade, Beijing, CN
The Trace of Civilization—The Great Art of Dunhuang, Beijing Mingsheng Art Museum, Beijing, CN
Rebirth – Encounter with Nature, Choi Center · Cloud House, Beijing, CN
9th Annual Photography Rankings of China, Photography Museum of Lishui, Zhejiang, CN
2021 Exuberance is Beauty, Song Art, Beijing, CN
2020 The Curation Workshop II: Story and Structure, OCT Art&Design Galler, Shenzhen, CN Theme Exhibition of the 6th Anniversary of 33 Contemporary Art Center, 33
Contemporary Art Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, CN
Among the Trees, Hayward Gallery, London, UK
2019 Beijing Contemporary Art Expo 2019, Beijing, CN
Art Basel Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CN
Chinese Whispers: Recent Art from the Sigg Collection, MAK Museum Vienna, Vienna, AT
Turning Point, NGV, Melbourne, AU
2018 Art Basel Hong Kong, Hong Kong, CN
2017 Rip It Up!: 2nd Changjiang Internatinal Photography and Video Biennale, Chongqing Changjiang Musuem of Contemporary Art, Chongqing, CN
West Bund Art & Design Fair, Shanghai, CN Hong Kong Art Basel, Hong Kong, CN
2016 Nature: A Subjective Place, Shanghai Center of Photography (SCôP), Shanghai, CN
2015 Don’t Shoot the Painter, Paintings from the UBSArt Collection, Galleriad’ Arte Moderna Milano, IT
The Bright Eye of the Universe, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, New York, US The Civil Power, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing, CN
Silent Poetry-Chinese Contemporary Youth Art Exhibition, China Cultural Centre in Sydney & Adelaide Festival Centre, AU
2014 Art Basel Hong Kong UBS VIPArt collection, Hong Kong, CN
2013 The 6th Chengdu Biennale, Chengdu, CN Made in China, London, UK
Art Macau, Macau, CN
2012 Pop Sensation from the UBSArt Collection, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, CN
2011 China: Memories & Imagination, Albemarle Gallery, London, UK
Art Nova 100 Project: Art Nova 100 Organizing Committee, Beijing’s Ditan Park, Beijing; Jinhan Exhibition Centre, Guangzhou; Shanghai International Sculpture Exhibition Center, Shanghai, CN
Micro-Life, Soka Art Center, Beijing, CN
Asian Art Festival: Chongqing Young Artist Biennale, Chongqing, CN Micro-Life Tour, Soka Art Center, Taiwan
2010 Art Beijing: Photography Beijing, Beijing, CN
2008 Art Beijing: Photography Beijing, Beijing, CN
2007 Dressing: Photography Exhibition, Cetus Gallery, Shanghai, CN Art Beijing, Photography Beijing, Beijing, CN
2006 Dimplom-Arbeiten Dortmund Photography Exhibition, GER