Borderline

The exhibition brings together a selection of Shang’s latest works alongside paintings dating back to 2014, offering Shanghai audiences a comprehensive view of the artist’s extraordinary imagination and technical mastery.

With a strong and growing international following, Shang has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary Chinese painting. His work is unmistakably singular, standing apart within the landscape of mainland art for its dreamlike quality, unique palette, and rich conceptual depth.

Partly inspired by the Surrealist master René Magritte, Shang references this lineage while developing his own highly personal visual language. Working across multiple series simultaneously, he draws on dreams and altered states as recurring sources of inspiration. His imagery hovers between imagination and reality, weaving together fantastical scenarios and hidden meanings that invite viewers to interpret, reflect, and decode.

As Shang explains: “I enjoy creating an atmosphere of suspense. I believe this feeling of suspense motivates us to think and ponder. Through this process, we can discover all sorts of hidden potentials.”

Born in Shenyang in 1985, Shang Chengxiang graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in 2008. Since then, he has worked as a full-time artist, exhibiting widely in both solo and group exhibitions in China and abroad. His works are held in significant collections including the DSL Collection (France), Blue Roof Museum (Chengdu), the American Consulate (Shenyang), and the Suzhou Jinji Lake Art Museum.