Walsh Gallery, contemporary Asian art with a social twist

by Matt

The latest contemporary Asian art gallery can be found at the Walsh Gallery, located in the west loop art district. The gallery, founded in 1993 by director Julie Walsh, has grown from simple roots into a firmly planted gallery.

Walsh, a council member of the Asian Society in New York, first began the gallery as a showroom for works from China, Japan, and India. Recently the gallery has segued into displaying many high-end contemporary artists. Past artists include: Vivan Sundaram and Nalini Malani from India; Xue Song, Song Dong, and Rong Rong from China; and  Heri Dono from Indonesia. According to gallery director Julie Walsh, “ In order to continue to expand awareness and collectors of contemporary Asian art in Chicago, the gallery works with many international curators including Wu Hung, Leng Lin, Sunhee Choi, Seewon Hyun and Jisun Song.” It is Walsh’s desire to collect that has helped propel her collections into the global spotlight. A number of her collections have been featured at the Chicago Cultural Center and The Sao Paolo Museum of Art. In 2007 the gallery created a new media lounge; allowing artists to showcase visual art. This coincides with the galleries continued participation in the DiVA (Digital and Video Art Fair) since 2005.

“Looking for Terrorists” – Yue Minjun

The gallery focuses on contemporary Asian art in several mediums, including: ink paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs. The first exhibition of 2011, “Monumental,” featured 15 Asian and Asian American Artists, including the Gao Brothers, whose work is currently on display. “Monumental” had political and social themes, articulated through sculpture, print, and mixed-media artworks. According to the exhibition’s press release, “Yue Minjun’s 15 foot painting called “Looking For Terrorists” recalls rows of cheery brightly colored faces of terrorists that look about as threatening as a Pokemon cartoon character.” Conversely Chen Wenbo’s piece titled “Epidemiology” depicts images of glossy eggs, perhaps questioning the materialism and plasticity running rampant in China today.

“Epidemiology” – Chen Wenbo

The current exhibition “Grandeur and Catharsis,” opened in March and features the artwork of the Gao Brothers and the gallery once again opens its walls to social, historical, and political topics, but with a satirical twist. The Gao Brothers, Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang, are based out of Beijing, China. Working together since the 1980s, their work has been exhibited in museums such as the China National Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

“Miss Mao no. 3” – Gao Brothers

This particular exhibition examines and pokes fun at the influence of Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong, or Chaiman Mao, was the founding father of the People’s Republic of China. The brothers’ pieces address tyranny, hypocrisy, and violence through sculpture and photography. The Gao Brothers believe that “art is about life not beauty,” while strongly believing in man’s potential for redemption.

“The Execution of Christ” – Gao Brothers

A life-sized sculpture titled “The Execution on Christ” may raise some eyebrows due to its brash imagery. According to Walsh, “The installation takes direct reference to [Edouard] Manet’s painting, ‘The Execution of Maximilian’ and the arrangement directly mimics the scene with Maximilian substituted by Christ.  In fact, Manet’s painting references [Francisco] Goya’s ‘The Third of May’. This particular Gao’s Brothers piece is a masterful nod at art historical reference, and further explores the suppression of religion pushed by Mao.” Continuing with the social focus of the exhibition “Miss Mao No. 3” questions how Chinese society allowed a person like Mao to become glorified. This sculpture, made of stainless steel, “adds to the feeling of materialism and deification,” states Walsh. “Grandeur and Catharsis” was slated to end in April, but has been extended through May.With Walsh’s art connections, the gallery will continue to bring Chicago the latest Asian artworks. If you are interested in contemporary Asian art, along with a touch of history and social conversation, click here, or head straight to the Walsh Gallery located at 118 N. Peoria St.

Images provided by Walsh Gallery & Terminators.com