In the Beijing Shangyuan Artists Village of China, the famous artist Shen Weiguang and a group of young artists who uphold pure spiritual art willingly choose a marginalized way of life. Through their arduous spiritual pilgrimage, they insist on the spiritual value and depth of artistic creation and the eternal quest for the nature of human spirit and the meaning of existence. Their inner freedom sets free their imagination and the power of artistic creation so that they may finally perceive directly the innermost “being”. In this way, they may transform their inner experience into visible artistic work. A successful presentation of the spiritual “being” means the birth of a real artistic work.

The secular history and the accumulation of everyday experience all have their limitations: sometimes they are inaccurate and sometimes inappropriate. The human logical thinking may at times become chains and shackles of their own. However, most people have forgotten that their true nature is already a perfect one. The nature of life is in essence dignified, noble and holy. One is unaware of and has no way to find out the hidden and peaceful wisdom due to the veiling of one’s soul. The true word may only be derived from one’s true nature. Art is a journey, and through the inconceivable artistic creation one can have a glimpse of the nature of spirit. In artistic creation, the mysterious and inexplicable thing is the most valuable and the most meaningful. Through creating the mysterious transcendental images, one can gradually perceive the brilliance and comprehend the intangibleness of life. This is the essence of “Transcendental Art”.

The Transcendental Artists Community mainly consists of Mr Shen Weiguang and his disciples and students. The embryo of the Community appeared in September, 2007. Out of compassion and sympathy, Mr Shen Weiguang helped several young people who felt at a loss along their road of pursuing true art. He inspired them and gave them instructions in their artistic creation. Then more and more people were coming to learn from Mr Shen. Due to their repeated expression of their sincere wishes, Mr Shen considered for the first time about taking in some of the young artists as his disciples. Finally he made the decision and made up his mind to teach his disciples what he has learnt from his quest for art and truth throughout his life and he ardently hopes that these young people may pass the heritage on to the future generations. The Transcendental Artists Community was officially founded in May, 2008. In April, 2009, the Contact Office of Transcendental Artists Community was set up and at the same time the website of the Community was put into operation. In August, 2009, the editing and design of the book A Collection of Talks by Shen Weiguang was finished. In the same month, the Community took part in “The 1^st Beijing 798 Biennale—Shangyuan Artists Village Open Studios”. In September, 2009, the community took part in the “Artistic Zhongguancun International Exposition”. In the same month, Transcendental Artists Community Portfolio 2007—2009 came out. Now Archives of Transcendental Artists Community is under compilation and will be published in May, 2010. Transcendental Artists Community has set up altogether six studios since the Community was officially founded and there are more than forty artists including Mr Shen Weiguang in the Community. Among the young artists, five of them have become the formal disciples of Mr Shen Weiguang. The artists participating in this Exhibition include Mr Shen Weiguang’s disciples: Xiang Long, Si Shen, Wei He and Huigang Zhong, and his students: Zhiming Cheng, Ying Xu, Hongwei Gao and Xiaocong Xie, and some other members of the Transcendental Artists Community: Yulin He, Zifan Wu, Cunshan Yan, Huiming Zhou and Qunfeng Dong, altogether 13 artists.

    The famous modern artist Shen Weiguang has devoted more than twenty years of his life to artistic creation. He presented the vicissitudes of the times and incorporated his spiritual experience and spiritual cultivation into his artistic work. As he has said, artistic creation is also a medium to seek the “Dao” of the world and a way of forging one’s spirit. Only through perceiving the inner vision can one reveal one’s spirit through art and only then can art be truly valuable and present the brilliance and glory of the human spirit. The wisdom without any hindrance is the most precious thing of all lives. Under his guidance, a group of young artists, who uphold truth and art, rise up and go straight ahead. In an age when the human spirit has been continuously falling, we, with our perseverance, voluntarily assume the heavy responsibilities of elevating the human spirit and purifying the human soul. With our best efforts, we will inherit and pass down the great spirit of the human race!

Participating Artists: Xiang Long, Si Shen, Wei He, Huigang Zhong, Zhiming Cheng, Ying Xu, Yulin He, Hongwei Gao, Xiaocong Xie, Zifan Wu, Cunshan Yan, Huiming Zhou, Qunfeng Dong

Exhibition Period: March 19th--April 18th, 2010

Exhibition Venue: Thread Gallery in 798 Art Zone

Curators: Zhiming Cheng, Tengfei Ning

Host: Thread Gallery

Address: 706 North Second Street, 798 Art Zone, Jiuxianqiao Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing

Tel: 010-59789667

Academic Partner: Transcendental Artists Community

Address: No. 188, Shangyuan Artists Village, Beijing

Tel: 010-61707303, 13718687334

Website: www.chaoyanyishu.com

Mailbox: chaoyanyishu@163.com