CuratorialProblematique
A Tie to All the Earth | Perrotin x teagan: | Beijing | 2023
“A Tie to All the Earth,” the inaugural show of teagan:, brings together works of 12 international artists represented by Perrotin (Shanghai), including Jean-Marie Appriou, Iván Argote, Daniel Arsham, Bernard Frize, Laurent Grasso, Thilo Heinzmann, Gregor Hildebrandt, Bharti Kher, Klara Kristalova, Lee Bae, Matthew Ronay and Pieter Vermeersch. In order to echo the spatial coordinates and ecological orientation of teagan:, the concept of “a biological tie” is deliberately articulated as the curatorial gesture to draw together the various threads in the artists’ different practices. Metaphorically speaking, how Chaobai River, the mother water of the northeastern suburbs of Beijing, which surrounds teagen: and its neighbouring complex, connects and integrates the new site. At the same time, it also explores how urban areas self-cultivate and stay in intimate contact with nature..
“A Tie to All the Earth” hereby attempts to retrace the embodied shape of the invisible “tie” from two nuanced approaches in continuity – the vertical pattern of “root” and the transversal trajectory of “route”, thus creating a progressive sense of place and an increased feeling of belonging. The juxtaposition of Hildebrandt’s homage to the forest in landscape painting or columnar sculpture, and Heinzmann’s sublime abstraction of blood-rushing movements gives the first impression in the ground floor. Building on this, the upstairs space provides a parallel vision of the desired pastoral lifestyle and the actual heterotopic illusion. The chance of shuttling back and forth between the two may again inspire us with fresh societal thinking and humanistic care.
Venue: teagan:, Beijing
Dates: 2023.4.27–6.11