With "The Melody of Village," an exhibition that just opened at Linda Gallery, Chinese artist Chen Shuzhong chose to depict simple everyday village scene, with loads of little details peppered around the canvas, which in many ways reminds me of the works of Pieter Brueghel The Elder, the famous 16th century flemish painter. Though very figurative in style, there is a bit of the surreal as well (oversized vegetables and everyday cooking objects)
Chen paints the paradise which he so desires, the quiet and happy village life that is giving way to the ever-hungry and demanding city life in many parts of China. The dizzyingly detailed compositions are also a strong reminder of M.C. Escher, the Dutch graphic artist famous for his mind-boggling infinitus constructions. It is, however, distinct, as Chen deliberately creates a flat, innocently childlike perspective on the foreground of many of his works with great effect. Refreshingly different.
