In Zhi Qiu's work, animals are not merely visual symbols; they are vessels of emotion, echoes of philosophy, and profound inquiries into life and existence. From a bird dancing gracefully to a cat silently staring, each animal on her canvas becomes an intertwining of the figurative and abstract, reflecting the most complex emotions of the human soul. The works in the exhibition Beak and Coal serve as a collection of this emotional depth and philosophical contemplation. They analyze the dilemma of life, swinging between pain and pleasure, and flowing between fear and release.
Opening view of Beak and Coal, November 23, 2024 - December 23, 2024, Nan Ke Gallery, Shanghai © Courtesy Nan Ke Gallery Photo by Tiger Chen
Qiu’s artistic language transforms animal images into a medium that connects the personal inner world with external reality. To her, animals are not only creatures of the natural world but also cultural symbols that carry the weight of human civilization, metaphorically bearing the burden of emotions. Through repeated reimagining of these creatures, Qiu continuously asks: when we look at the world through the eyes of an animal, can we touch the fractures of human self-awareness? Her works embody this very inquiry: through the symbol of the animal, she attempts to reveal the primal conflict between life and desire, exploring the emotional complexity within human society.
Installation view of Beak and Coal, November 23, 2024 - December 23, 2024, Nan Ke Gallery, Shanghai © Courtesy Nan Ke Gallery Photo by Runxin
In the exhibition Beak and Coal, Qiu applies her characteristic sharp observation to construct an artistic map interwoven with life and death, appearance and essence, drawing from the concept of "karma" in Eastern philosophy. Through the animal as a totem, she transcends the limitations of traditional symbols and continues to challenge the viewer's established understanding of life. The images of animals in her work are transformed into carriers of emotion, simultaneously embodying fear and pleasure, existence and nothingness. Qiu uses these emotional opposites to explore life’s fragility and resilience, as well as the duality of desire and repression.
Zhi Qiu
Mind, 2024
Acrylic, mixed media on canvas
150h x 200w cm
© Courtesy of the artist
In Qiu's work, animal imagery is not merely a literal representation; it is a symbol of emotion and a philosophical tool. Every line, color, and expression of the animals is a projection of the artist’s inner world. Within these symbols lies profound cultural significance and emotional tension. She evokes deep emotional responses in the viewer through intense color contrasts and disjointed forms, stirring both reverence for life’s instincts and deep reflection on existence. Every stroke feels like a response to the world: outwardly, it is the depiction of an animal’s image, yet inwardly, it is a profound dialogue on the relationship between the self and the other.
Zhi Qiu
Journey, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
100h x 80w cm
© Courtesy of the artist
Qiu’s creation is also an exploration of life and an intuitive pursuit. On her canvas, the images of animals are far from static; they act as living vessels of emotion, traversing time and space, responding to both external forces and inner voices. Through the layering of intuition and perception, Qiu brings abstract emotions into vivid and tangible form. The animals' bodies, gazes, postures, and colors intertwine into moments of emotional tension, capturing and expressing the flow of feelings.
Zhi Qiu
Phlegethon, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
100h x 235w cm
© Courtesy of the artist
The core of the exhibition seems to lie in the reality perceived through the "cracks" of life. Through the symbolic shaping of animals, Qiu raises a philosophical question: when life presents itself in different forms, how can we use intuition and perception to approach the truth? Her works do not only focus on the surface of life but also explore the spirit and consciousness lying beneath. In Qiu’s hands, animals become mirrors, reflecting the desires and fears, sadness and hope deep within each of us. Through these vivid images, she deconstructs the complexity of emotion and reflects on the connection between self and world.
In the cracks between existence, Qiu uses animals as a universally symbolic medium to touch on the complex interweaving of life and desire, gender and culture. With keen insight, she captures the resonance between animal and human emotions, breaking free from the traditional constraints of art with bold compositions and color choices. Like a canary singing in the shadows, she conveys emotions and reflections from the depths of the soul.
Zhi Qiu
The Crowd and the Cat of Nanquan, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
100h x 235w cm
© Courtesy of the artist
In Qiu's works, life and death, love and fear, freedom and constraint coexist. These complex emotions are presented through animal imagery, which serves as a vessel of perception and emotional resonance. Each piece in the exhibition is like a riddle waiting to be unlocked, inviting the viewer to enter this multidimensional space formed by animals, symbols, and colors, bringing their own perceptions and understandings. Here, every detail seems like a path, pointing toward deeper realms of life—"a place that cannot be fully understood, yet one that evokes a strong emotional resonance," as Qiu describes it.
Text by Roxane Fu
December 11, 2024
