Skypath – Cao Jigang

Cao Jigang’s subtle works suggest abstracted shapes as a types of landscapes or parts of human bodies. Jigang’s eggwash technique is very much in vogue at the moment with younger artists so viewers have a chance to see how this more established artist has taken a  traditional approach and made it their own.

Cao Jigang, Cool shadows, 2023. Tempera on Wood, 140x192cm

Cao Jigang, Vertical face of mountain, 2022. Tempera on linen 195x270cm

Cao Jigang, Barren cold 9, 2021. Tempera on linen, 160x300cm

Cao Jigang, White U-Shape, 2023. Tempera on linen, 175x250cm

Cao Jigang – Skypath – Exhibition notes: 

London, Mayfair – Bluerider ART is thrilled to announce the European debut solo exhibition of renowned Chinese artist Cao Jigang, titled Skypath, running from 8 October to 31 December 2024. Featuring a series of works created over recent years, Skypath showcases numerous large-scale Tempera Shanshui – a practice that combines traditional Western egg tempera technique with traditional Chinese landscape (Shanshui) to result in the artist’s distinctly elegant and poetic landscape style. These explorations include the monumental Altitude 4687, a four-metre-wide painting which exquisitely depicts the snow-covered peaks of the Tibetan Plateau.

The work of Cao Jigang (b. China, 1955) encompasses an artistic journey that spans over four decades. It has evolved through various mediums and techniques and traversed many different phases. Throughout, his works are characterized by a unique semi-transparency, a warm, porcelain-like texture reminiscent of jade, achieved through deliberate layering. Expressing the concept of “emptiness” through intentional application, Cao Jigang has transitioned towards a minimalist style, opening up a space for contemplation on the connection between heaven and humanity. From his tranquil landscapes to the chilling void of works in the Barren Cold series, the artist expresses the idea of transcending earthly confines on the ‘skypath’. His practice is a process of integrating spirit, emotions, and insights into nature, connecting with nature through art and ultimately reaching the path of unity between individual life and the universe, as expressed in Taoist philosophy: “Harmony between Heaven and Man, Unity of Nature and Humanity.”

Cao Jigang’s early works can be characterised as his “Great Wall Period” in which he employed the pure language of European oil painting to depict the iconic Wonder of the World, in its meandering journey across the dramatic Chinese landscape. However, within the paintings, the artist replaced the Great Wall with desolate ruins. Utilising innovating pencil techniques, the artist then also began to combine landscapes and scenery in a dramatic fashion, reminiscent of ancient landscape depictions to impart a majestic and grand atmosphere in the style of classical Chinese ink wash painting. From sketching landscapes, then, in low-altitude southern regions, Cao Jigang ascended to higher altitudes with expansive views of plateaus. The painting perspective began to open up and simplify. Utilizing the oily properties of acrylic paints, the artist introduced a misty effect in realistic landscape paintings, creating an ink-wash aesthetic, transforming the landscapes through the traditional Chinese landscape practice of “Shan Shui.”

In moving towards an exploration of egg tempera in the 1980s, Cao Jigang dedicated himself to the study of the intricate European ancient technique, using it for its irreplaceable luminosity and texture. However, by drawing inspiration from the glazing method in traditional Chinese ink wash painting, Cao Jigang retains the flowing quality of ink with thin layers, finding balance between the solidity of Western painting and the fluidity of traditional Chinese ink wash painting. Embracing the tenets of Chinese landscape painting inspired by Taoist philosophy, Cao Jigang’s works blend the solemn elements of isolated landscapes with the spontaneity of nature during plein air sketching. Whether portraying stark contrasts in monochrome or neutral greys with almost no emotional tone, his minimalistic approach resembles the subtle traces of passing time.

The exhibition Skypath, Cao Jigang’s first solo show in Europe, comprises works created in the last five years. Highlights include several large-scale works, including the 4-metre-wide Altitude 4687, a monumental piece that brings awe to viewers as they seemingly stand at the foot of the great mountain. The soft curves within White U-shape contrast its grey-blue background with the warm, jade-like texture of tempera, revealing an elegant poetic quality while Barren cold 9 which skilfully illustrates the connection between Western tempera and Chinese Shanshui, expanding the ethereal quality of traditional landscape paintings and truly immersing viewers in the scene.

In addition, as part of the curation, the exhibition Skypath invites the audience to journey through the artist’s 40-year-long creative process, with Cao Jigang’s usual studio desk set up recreated in the gallery space – mirroring some of the processes and tools he still incorporates, from portraying the ruins of the Great Wall to the mournful melody of Guangling Melody; echoing scenes from tranquil landscapes to the chilling void of Barren Cold.

Cao Jigang Bio
Cao Jigang (China, 1955), graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1984. In 2000, he completed the Material Expression Research Program at the same academy. He has previously taught at the Basic Department of the Sculpture School at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and currently resides and works in Beijing. He received the Silver Award at the 9th National Art Exhibition of China in 1999 and has participated in numerous exhibitions at institutions such as the China National Art Museum and internationally. His works are permanently collected by prestigious institutions like the China National Art Museum, Shanghai Art Museum, as well as by numerous collectors from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

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