Rachel Zhang at Saatchi Yates
20th November – 20th December 2024
Saatchi Yates
14 Bury Street
St James’s
London
SW1Y 6AL
Saatchi Yates presents the London solo debut by Chinese-American artist, Rachel Zhang. The artist, based in Brooklyn, New York, delves into the absurdities and anxieties surrounding personal autonomy and systems of power. Through surrealist figurative scenes, Zhang explores the evolving beliefs that structure social hierarchies and manifestations of control. Known for her evocative oil paintings that explore the intersections of personal autonomy and authority, Zhang’s work dives deep into the often absurd and unsettling dimensions of human interaction within institutional structures.
oil on canvas, 132.1 x 157.5 x 3.8 cm
Image courtesy of the artist and Saatchi Yates
Zhang’s work reflects her nuanced perspective on visibility, otherness, and the complexities of identity in relation to her cultural heritage and societal expectations. Everyday public spaces – gym changing rooms, dive bars and gas stations become sources for her absurdist characters to come alive. Reminiscent of Jorg Immendorf’s Berlin paintings, Zhang’s creations often depict figures in conflict or metamorphosis; men turn into bowling pins and commuters morph into cogs on wheels.
My works are explorations of the absurdities and existential anxieties surrounding questions of personal autonomy and the social roles we occupy in relation to various systems of power. Through surrealist figurative scenes, I’m interested in reflecting on and metaphorizing the evolving beliefs that have structured societies and their social hierarchies, moralities, and manifestations of control over our bodies.
Rachel Zhang
As a second-generation Chinese American, Zhang brings a unique perspective that enriches her interpretations of cultural and societal frameworks. Through surrealist figurative scenes, she examines not only the dynamics of control and autonomy but also the complex experiences of identity, visibility, and otherness. Her work resonates with her heritage, drawing inspiration from her family’s narratives from 20th-century China, broader Asian American histories, and the role of women across generations. Zhang’s art boldly navigates these subjects, setting her apart as a leading voice in contemporary genre painting.
Image courtesy of the artist and Saatchi Yates
ABOUT RACHEL ZHANG
American artist Rachel Zhang, based in Brooklyn, NY, delves into the absurdities and existential anxieties surrounding personal autonomy and societal roles concerning systems of power. Through surrealist figurative scenes, Zhang explores the evolving beliefs that structure social hierarchies and manifestations of control. Her oil paintings, symbolic of contemporary genre painting, often depict figures in conflict or metamorphosis, navigating mysterious tasks and public spaces marked by power dynamics.
Image courtesy of the artist and Saatchi Yates
As a second-generation Chinese American woman, Zhang’s work reflects her nuanced perspective on visibility, otherness, and the complexities of identity in relation to her cultural heritage and societal expectations. She draws from personal and collective histories, including the intersection of Asian American experiences, family narratives during 20th-century China, and broader histories of women’s roles. Zhang earned her BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York, where she cultivated her interest in surrealist imagery and its intersection with social psychology. In 2024, she was awarded the NYFA Recharge New Surrealist Prize.
Rachel Zhang at Saatchi Yates open the 20th of November until the 20th of December 2024 at Saatchi Yates
©2024 Saatchi Yates
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