Jun Dong

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

MA Project - Open Access

Project Type

MA Project - Curatorial Proposal

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Art Business

First Advisor

Xu Yingqing

Abstract

Focusing squarely on He Rengao’s long-developed visual philosophy, this exhibition will take the form of a solo presentation introducing Super-Consciousness Imagery to New York audiences. As one of China’s most established contemporary artists, He has spent decades refining a highly introspective and philosophically grounded painterly language. This exhibition aims to situate his mature body of work within an international conversation, foregrounding painting as a site where civilizational imagination, spiritual inquiry, and aesthetic experimentation converge. The exhibition title, Super-Consciousness Imagery, encapsulates two key elements central to He’s artistic practice; it refers to the expanded state of awareness the artist seeks to evoke as an elevated realm that moves beyond personal emotion toward a broader reflection on humanity’s shared destiny. “Imagery” denotes not mimetic representation but a constructed mental field in which gesture, symbol, and cosmological structure are intertwined. Together, the title signals an approach to painting that is conceptual, experiential, and contemplative, inviting viewers to engage with the works not only visually but cognitively and spiritually. Rooted in classical Chinese philosophy yet responsive to global contemporary conditions, He’s paintings merge multiple traditions into a singular pictorial logic. His use of atmospheric color fields, script-like markings, cloud-borne textures, and architectonic structures reveals an ongoing dialogue between order and spontaneity, expansion and restraint. Having spent decades studying ancient cosmology, Lao-Zhuang thought, and the literati freehand tradition, He extends these influences into a contemporary visual register that responds to technological acceleration, ecological uncertainty, and the spiritual fatigue of modern life. Rather than resolving these tensions, his works invite viewers into a field of contemplation where metaphysical inquiry becomes intertwined with lived experience. Through this sustained investigation of consciousness, He articulates an aesthetic that is both deeply rooted in Chinese cultural lineage and resonant with universal human concerns. Attesting to the continuing relevance of philosophical abstraction in the 21st century, this exhibition intends to highlight how Mr. He’s paintings create a space for audiences to contemplate civilizational narratives, spiritual grounding, and the ethical responsibilities of the present moment.  The works probe the complexities of existence, prompting a reexamination of self, world, and the intertwined cultural, ecological, and technological systems that structure our present moment.  In doing so, the exhibition positions Super-Consciousness Imagery not only as an artistic achievement but also as a reflective framework through which audiences may consider the future of collective human consciousness. The exhibition is proposed to be on view in November 2025 at the World Journal Art Gallery located in the World Journal Building in New York City. The choice of venue was carefully considered for its generous ceiling height and uninterrupted wall expanses, which accommodate the artist’s large-scale canvases and allow the atmospheric qualities of the work to be fully appreciated. As a cultural space situated within a major Chinese American institution, the gallery also provides a meaningful context for presenting a Chinese artist whose work embodies cross-civilizational dialogue. Additionally, the location’s accessibility and multicultural neighborhood setting offer the potential to attract a broad and diverse audience, aligning with the exhibition’s intention to foster open exchange across cultural perspectives.

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