In Wang Kaifan‘s paintings, a delicate balance is achieved in the Apollonian and Dionysian juxtaposition through his application of wet and dry sponges. The sponge is his primary medium for expression – a dry sponge rubs against the paint and canvas vigorously to leave sharp and “painful” strokes, while a sponge full of water softens the colors into flowing tints with the texture like ink. While covering the canvas, oil pastels, charcoal, and other materials abrade and reconcile with each other, eventually resolving into a fluid form that conceals the initial confrontations.

For the artist, born in Hohhot and based in Berlin, color is not only a fundamental element in the composition of his paintings but also the key to different beliefs and civilizations, where the natural world could also be introduced into the above discussion. The vibrant and bold use of color in Hindu civilization, and the colors of blue, white, and red symbolic of sacredness, purity, and strength in Mongolian culture, form a unique visual language within Wang Kaifan’s cross-cultural explorations.

As a representative work of the “River” series, Blue Wilted (2022) connects to the artist’s latent memory: part of the blue runway at an old Berlin airport, with the surroundings vaguely reflected by the paint and rubber buildup on its surface. The river of flowing mind, sensitive feelings, and subdued atmosphere are solidified by Wang Kaifan, which appears ready to spread in all directions the next second. Within these imprints, nature, culture, and memories resonate.