Xueqing Zhu's solo project Pillow Talk was successfully concluded at the AURORA Museum of Art in Shanghai. The exhibition creates an intimate and solemn space in the old, ornate and bright building, like a screening room from the last century, speaking of the growth and drastic changes that the artist herself has experienced in recent years, and the murmuring echoes that are mapped onto the canvas.

进入展厅，在沉溺于大片的酒红色布景之前，正对面的纯白墙面抢先一步提供了有关记忆的鲜明视角。其上悬挂着朱雪晴在威尼斯求学和生活时期的较早期创作，开启展览由溯洄而始的开端。

“早期的作品似乎是更‘不严肃’的反叛，一种建立在没有实际经验的假想之上的愤怒与逃离。因此从质感上来讲，所有的情绪都依然保留着轻盈的状态，并最终呈现出一种浪漫。”

Entering the gallery, before indulging in the large burgundy set, the pure white wall directly opposite offers a stark view of memory. Hanging on the wall are earlier works by Zhu Xueqing from her time studying and living in Venice, starting the exhibition from a retrospective point of view.

在《温柔的火焰》系列作品中，朱雪晴描绘火焰的温暖，及一切桎梏坍塌之时轰然作响的自由。在优雅火光的笼罩之下，兔子从行将毁灭的房子中出走，而干枯的玫瑰则在火焰的滋养下长出新芽。

被威尼斯悠荡的惬意水花滋养着，这个时期的作品呈现出强烈而唯美的童话感。潜藏的反叛、狠戾与冷静在此时都没有长出过于锋利的棱角，而是成为了恶作剧式的带有辛辣的微妙刺痛。然而，当视线离开这一面墙并开始环顾四周，冷冽的风即由此从被毁坏的房子的缝隙里穿过，带来有关现实世界的更深体悟与由此萌发的下一步生长。

In the series “Tender Flame: Five Chapters”, Zhu Xueqing depicts the warmth of fire and the freedom that comes with the collapse of all shackles. Under the elegant glow of the fire, a rabbit escapes from a house on the verge of destruction, while a dried rose grows new shoots under the nourishment of the flames.

Nourished by the cozy waters of Venice, the works of this period present a strong and beautiful sense of fairy tale. The latent rebellion, ruthlessness and calmness do not grow too sharp at this time, but become a subtle sting of mischief with pungency. However, when the eye leaves this wall and begins to look around, the cold wind passes through the cracks of the destroyed house, bringing a deeper realization of the real world and the next growth that sprouts from it.

房间一侧的长帷幔上悬挂着“自由鸟之行”（Free Bird Trip），衔接着从着火的房子中逃离的后续章节。“画作中的平衡也好，前进也好，都带给我一种苍凉、甚至悲壮的感觉，一种类似于放逐的体验。它不再如同之前一般是一个‘恶作剧’，而是真实且严肃的出走。”

“在获得更进一步的天地之后回视，曾经的心态与创作时的心境会变得更加清晰。或许当我到达下一个阶段之后反观此刻，我也会有同样的、更为轻松的视角。这种想法在我看来与整个展览也是一致的：就如同人生电影一般，过去的片段一幕一幕地向前铺展。创作也由此跟着人生的脚步走，不断向前思考，再推翻过去。”

On the side of the room, a long drape hangs “Free Bird Trip,” a sequel to the escape from the burning house. “The balancing and moving forward in the painting gave me a feeling of bleakness, even sadness, an experience similar to exile. It is no longer a 'prank' as it was before, but a real and serious exodus.”

“Looking back after gaining further ground, the mindset I was in and the state of mind I was in when I created it will become clearer. Perhaps when I look back at this moment after reaching the next stage, I will have the same, more relaxed perspective. In my opinion, this idea is also consistent with the whole exhibition: just like a movie of life, the past footage is spreading forward one by one. Creation also follows the footsteps of life, constantly thinking forward and then overturning the past.”

朱雪晴 Xueqing Zhu

朱雪晴 Xueqing Zhu

As we walk towards the exit, we see two other creations by Xueqing, “experiments” with the usual elements. “Hint: It's a teardrop” depicts the human eye in a surreal way and uses thin spider threads to mimic the shape of an eyelash. In this work, layers of dewdrops hang from the lower part of the spider's web as an analogy for the eye socket that receives the tears.

Next to it, “Pink skirt in the room with less light” depicts a lonely inner monologue like a movie set. “I bought this dress in Italy, and I really liked its very life-like feel. And when I had to be in a gloomy room, I wore it in the hope that it would lift me up as well.” In the corner of the room rests a painting by her favorite artist, which, along with the hanging orchid that follows it, serves as a symbol for the imprint of sunlight that doesn't exist in reality.

朱雪晴 Xueqing Zhu

文/付若瑄‍‍‍‍

Text by Roxane Fu

主办方 Organisers

展览现场 Installation View｜朱雪晴: 枕边书 Xueqing Zhu: Pillow Talk

‍‍

展览预告｜朱雪晴震旦博物馆个展项目《枕边书》 Xueqing Zhu: Pillow Talk

More information / 更多信息

南柯画廊 Nan Ke Gallery