姚念宇，祖籍河北，生于江苏，工作生活于上海。基于祖父母辈由上海支援大西北建设所植根的童年记忆，结合当下中国城市化进程和乡村振兴的时代背景与个人经历，他的创作旨在探究族群的聚落，根系流动的痕迹，及历史变迁对个体与集体造成的震动。他的创作基于对传统的调研，取材于当下，以不仅限于当代艺术的手段对切身的生命经验进行开放性地跨学科、跨媒介的回应及表达。创作方式也跨越架上、综合材料装置，到行为表演及视频影像。

 

关注材料的流动性，是持续贯穿姚念宇创作的骨架：从行为身体的观演关系，到综合材料架上作品的观看视角；从展览中承载影像的冰幕融化，到金属装置的氧化；从将身体置于极限自然环境中不作为，含蓄地将身体如同「弱水」般融于负形之上，视创作为「悟道」般含蓄隐忍的呢喃细语；到以传统媒介，如水墨、陶瓷、漆艺，结合当代技术革新，融入当下的观看语境，为「东方性」找到属于当下及未来的，新的情绪共鸣。

 

姚念宇目前创作的架上综合材料作品，反映了近几年对于传统文化调研的思考。在当今艺术的艺术世界/生态中，充斥着“聚焦”于各民族群落和其特定社会文化现象的实践，其对于种族、性别、身份认同等问题的探究不一而足。然而，放眼世界艺术史，未有如中国艺术、哲学般丰厚地文化财产，长久被西方主导视角所奇观化地凝视、低估和忽略。亦此，对于中国传统文化及变化发展中的当代中国新文化形态进行梳理和“翻译”，亦当成为吾辈为之思考和奋斗的工作。

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项目经历：

受邀举办个人项目、策划并参与群展「God Save the Tea」于伦敦巴比肯艺术中心、「CMAA2021中国当代艺术年鉴展」798艺术中心、「90, 我们这一代」山西当代美术馆、「A minute Ago」扎布卢多维奇美术馆、「Elos」 Documenta14文献展特别表演单元、M50鸦巢画廊、「Workinprogress」33ml Space等空间。

2019年归国，创办「晴宇释物所」艺术工作室。

 

 

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Hailing from Hebei and born in Jiangsu, Yao Nianyu Leslie now lives and works in Shanghai. His artistic creation is deeply rooted in the childhood memories shaped by his grandparents' journey from Shanghai to Northwest China in developmental projects. In his work, Yao merges these memories with the contemporary backdrop of China's urbanization and rural revitalization, seeking to examine the gathering/dispersal of ethnic groups, the traces of root migrations, and the profound impact of historical transformations on individuals and communities. His creative approach is grounded in traditional research, yet contemporarily informed, employing interdisciplinary and cross-media methodologies to openly respond to and express his personal life experiences. His artistic expression spans across rasel works, mixed-material installations, performance art and video.

 

A central theme in Yao's art is the fluidity of materials, which forms the backbone of his creations. This theme encompasses the performative interplay of the body, the viewing perspectives in his mixed-material works, the melting ice screens carrying images in his exhibitions, the oxidizing metal installations, and the subtle integration of the body into extreme natural environments, akin to 'gentle water' flowing over a negative space. He perceives creation as a subtle, enduring whisper of 「enlightenment」. Employing traditional mediums like ink, ceramics, and lacquer art, coupled with contemporary technological advancements, he seamlessly integrates these into the contemporary visual context, seeking a novel emotional resonance for 「Orientalism」 that resonates with both the present and the future.

 

Yao's recent mixed-material canvas works reflect his contemplation on traditional cultural research. Today's art world, brimming with practices focused on various ethnic communities and their unique socio-cultural phenomena, is replete with explorations into race, gender, and identity. However, none can rival the rich cultural heritage of Chinese art and philosophy, which has long been subject to spectacle, undervaluation, and neglect by the Western-dominated viewpoint. Therefore, the resurgence and "translating" of traditional Chinese culture and the evolving forms of contemporary Chinese culture is a thoughtful and challenging task for generations.

  

Project Experience:

Yao Nianyu Leslie has been invited to hold both personal projects and group exhibitions at the Barbican Centre in London, 「CMAA2021 China Contemporary Art Annual Exhibition"」at 798 Art Center, 「90 Our Generation」at Shanxi Contemporary Art Museum, 「A minute Ago」 at Zabludowicz Gallery, 「Elos」special performance unit of Documenta14, M50 Nest Gallery, 「Workinprogress」 at 33ml Space, among others.

 

In 2019, he returned to China and established the "Qingyu" Art Studio.