Hengzhi Gong (b. 1995) is an artist and violinist based in London and Chongqing. In 2018 he graduated with a BA in Industrial Design from the Beijing Institute of Technology and in 2020 with an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art. His work has been exhibited internationally in such group shows as Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London (2019), Get It for Cheap, Soil Gallery, Seattle (2019), RCA WIP Show, Sackler Building, London (2019), Graduation Show, Gallery of Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing (2018) and What a Joke, Fruit Space, Chongqing (2016).  

 The figures in his paintings come from his personal experience and dreams. These add an absurd and humorous narrative that connects one figure to another. The narrative, always stemming from contemporary social and political issues, might lend these figures allegorical meaning and content. In this way, these quotidian images do not just speak for themselves, but also represent something else–a surplus. This process is a critical element that helps Hengzhi conduct political allegory in his work. In addition, his paintings also reflect an element of self-mockery aimed at his powerlessness towards self-censorship as a Chinese artist, which brings an immense sadness hidden in the happiness to his paintings. Overall, as a reticent Chinese who seldom speaks much, Hengzhi does not merely want to document his experiences, dreams and imagination through his paintings, but also utilises forces as another voice to express his identity, political opinions and other thoughts which he could hardly speak out loud in his real life.

WINTERGREEN BOXWOOD

Exhibition catalogue
34 pages - Fully illustrated in colour,
5.8 x 8.3 inches (14.8 x 21 cm)

Click here to download a pdf version of the catalogue, or please contact the gallery at info@no20arts.com to enquire about a paper copy.