Jimmy LIAO Solo Exhibition

ESLITE GALLERY proudly presents the Solo Exhibition by Jimmy LIAO as the grand finale of its 2023 exhibition lineup. This showcase will feature 14 oil paintings and a collection of works on paper, all created by Jimmy for this exhibition. Over the course of two years, he has created 49 pieces, utilizing both oil and acrylic mediums to vividly bring his imagination to life on paper and canvas. This solo exhibition is a curated display of select works from this prolific period. Jimmy has personally shared that he poured substantial effort and contemplation into the preparation for this solo exhibition, from the initial conceptualization to experimenting with various mediums. Coinciding with his 65th birthday just one week ahead of the exhibition's opening renders this solo exhibition all the more special. 

With extensive experience in paper drawing, Jimmy's preferred mediums typically include acrylics and watercolors. However, this exhibition showcases a departure from Jimmy's usual style with 15 "oil on paper" pieces. Venturing beyond his familiar creative techniques, Jimmy has opted for thick oil paints, layering his distinct color palette stroke by stroke. These works, vibrant and enigmatic, unveil dream-like and profound alternate realities on paper. 

My oil paintings also seem to weave their own narratives, each telling their own unique story. I'm uncertain of what it is, but there's a picture in my mind. - Jimmy

 

Similar to his picture books, Jimmy's oil paintings, though singular images, are imbued with an abundance of imagination and narrative depth --

In these paintings, there's typically just a single boy or girl, set against diverse backdrops: a beautiful flower garden, a deep, enigmatic forest, a coast with gentle waves, or even a dry, leaf-covered swimming pool. The expressions on the children's faces are subtly nuanced—some have their eyes shut, as if lost in a sleepwalk, others look out with a curious, inquisitive gaze, and some have the stark, white faces of mime actors...

These figures echo what psychologists refer to as the "inner child", that childlike aspect that persists within adults. Jimmy is convinced that everyone confronts life's complexity and challenges in this solitary, introspective manner. 

I eventually realized that creation is a voyage of self-discovery. - Jimmy

Forest wonderland on canvas

Having honed his expertise in drawings on paper, Jimmy has recently shifted his artistic focus toward the oil medium. While maintaining his signature "Jimmy style" characterized by elements of mystery, fantasy, solitude, and warmth, he now explores the use of vibrant saturated colors to enhance the visual depth of his creations. Furthermore, he employs thick layers of impasto to add profound dimensions to his art. 

The starting piece of this solo exhibition is Let's Play Together. In this work, a little boy with closed eyes is depicted stepping on a red ball on a winding forest path, near a miniature house from which white smoke rises. The forest is rendered in richly colored tree trunks, engendering a vivid and lively visual experience. 

Dancing Elephant

The largest painting in the exhibition, shows an elephant under a spotlight, its body a kaleidoscope of colors, performing circus acts alongside children.

Even with more than 70 picture books to his name, Jimmy relentlessly pursues the expansive horizons of art, now navigating the dynamic world of oil painting...

In the vast expanse of oil painting, I sense my own smallness. The imagination here is limitless, and I am eager to convey the visions in my heart in their purest form. - Jimmy

Jimmy's art serves as both a personal healing voyage and a balm for the souls of you and me --

Although the theme of solitude is prevalent in Jimmy's artwork, viewers can unmistakably sense the warmth emanating from within. Above all, they portray a subtle yet brave stance toward life's ups and downs. 

Jimmy LIAO Solo Exhibition

November 25 — December 30, 2023

ESLITE GALLERY｜B1, No. 88, Yanchang Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110055, Taiwan (eslite spectrum Songyan Store)

Opening Hours: 11am-7pm, Tuesday – Saturday