Pearl Lam Galleries is pleased to present Heart of the Matter, a solo exhibition by Shanghai-based artist Chen Yufan. On view are different series of two- and three-dimensional objects together with a selection of installation works. Chen explores the subject of regional geography and examines how it can shape our perception. Heart of the Matter invites viewers to pay attention to the nature of our consciousness and, in particular, our association with a physical object to reveal kinship among individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

The artist is known for Mulan River Project (2011), a collaboration with his brother Chen Yujun, which delves into the migratory patterns of people and goods of the Mulan River located in their hometown, Putian in Fujian Province. This signature project has paved the way for Chen’s investigation on the fluidity of our self-identity. At a time when we can no longer differentiate between art, cultural commodities, and objects of appropriation, Chen has become sceptical of the use of art to initiate any positive changes in society. Conversely, his counter strategy is to turn inward. Using the neo-Confucius principle of metaphysics《格物致知》as a guide, Chen provokes new meanings of objecthood from a socioeconomic standpoint.

Bombarded by disparate histories, incessant urban development, and often conflicting demands of our surroundings, human existence appears to have become increasingly uncertain.  How best should art be utilised as a tool for practising self-discipline to recover a fragmented self? Chen states, “Space is no longer a flat image. It is a tangible and psychological presence that can be experienced. While the dimensions of physical space cannot be altered, we can transform our mental and spiritual spaces through art.”

Gallery address: 6/F Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central