Cao Zhen caozhen0806@126.com RARELY has Shenzhen seen an exhibition of artworks without descriptions or captions, but “Geng Jianyi: East to the Bridge” does just that. The exhibition at OCT Contemporary Art Terminal (OCAT) features collages of images copied from distorted personal photos, publicity pictures, old government files, maps, personal diaries, mobile text messages and paintings by artist Geng Jianyi. The whole exhibition is the single piece of art “East to the Bridge.” According to Huang Zhuan, executive curator of OCAT, Geng doesn’t give any explanations about the exhibition nor does he grant press interviews. The artist designed the exhibition layout and placed the exhibits by himself. The exhibits begin with two maps of part of Zhengzhou, in central China’s Henan Province, where “the Bridge” is located. Zhengzhou is Geng’s hometown. Some exhibits, such as his childhood paintings, personal photos and publicity images, recount Geng’s personal memories over the past 30 years. Huang said the exhibition was inspired by an experience Geng had with a fortuneteller, whose predictions echoed Huang’s later experiences. Therefore, there are also some exhibits of traditional Chinese fortune-telling texts and coins. The exhibition ends with several photocopied government documents that say “the Bridge” will be demolished soon. The whole exhibition presents the paradox between the knowable and unknowable in an individual’s destiny and the possible and impossible in an individual’s memory. Born in 1962, Geng graduated from the oil painting department of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now China National Academy of Fine Arts) in 1985 and lives and works in Hangzhou. His works have been included in major exhibitions in China and overseas. According to British critic Karen Smith’s research, the main focus of Geng’s extensive oeuvre is the issue of individual identity — his own personal position within the context of the collective. Despite his practice of using diverse aesthetics and media (including activist street art, oil paintings, installation art and ink drawings), the artist never ceases exploring the questions of the “self” in today’s world. Geng is one of a broadening group of artists that are of tremendous significance to contemporary art since the mid-1980s because they were exploring, and continue to explore, specific personal experiences. Their work has a value and an impact that goes far beyond the surface. As is evident in all Geng’s works, the concern is to look closely at something small, a fragment, a detail of what is in essence quite ordinary, and through it, becoming aware of ourselves, our existence and the potential of this awareness to shape what is taking place, according to Smith. Dates: Until Nov. 1 Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Closed Mondays Venue: OCAT, OCT-LOFT, Enping Road, Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District (南山区华侨城恩平路创意文化园OCT当代艺术中心) Metro: Luobao Line, Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A | 