Table of Contents
| Title: | Vermilion Art |
|---|---|
| Duration: | 02:26 |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Production: | Handmade Films (Australia) |
| Production Crew: | David Silva, Alex Ballingall, Ben Chew, Luca Rabak |
Sydney's Vermilion Art, a pioneering gallery dedicated to contemporary Chinese art since its establishment in 2015, made a notable appearance at the Melbourne Art Fair 2025. The gallery, known for its commitment to showcasing both established and emerging talents from China and Australia, presented a curated selection of works at booth A01 during the fair held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from February 20th to 23rd, 2025. This year, Vermilion Art spotlighted the distinct artistic practices of two significant figures from their stable: the internationally acclaimed sculptor Chen Wenling and the Beijing-based painter Gao Ping.
Vermilion Art has carved a niche for itself within the Australian art scene by championing contemporary Chinese art and fostering a dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic expressions. Situated in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct in Sydney, near institutions like the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), the gallery's presence at a major event like the Melbourne Art Fair underscores its dedication to reaching a broader national audience and engaging with the wider art market.
One of the featured artists, Chen Wenling, born in Fujian, China, in 1969, has garnered global recognition as a leading contemporary sculptor. His international stature was cemented by his Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale in 1999. Wenling is particularly celebrated for his iconic 'Red Memory' series. At the Melbourne Art Fair 2025, Vermilion Art showcased a selection of his newly created sculptures from 2024. These works, continuing his "Red Man" series, presented the familiar, humorous red figures, but in smaller, more intimate scales than his monumental public installations. These sculptures, with their glossy red finish and playful forms, served as a poignant reminder of his commentary on Chinese society during the Cultural Revolution and beyond.
The second artist showcased by Vermilion Art was Gao Ping, born in Shandong Province, China, in 1974, who currently lives and works in Beijing. Gao Ping's artistic journey reflects a deep engagement with both Eastern and Western art traditions. At the Melbourne Art Fair, Vermilion Art presented Gao Ping's latest body of work, a significant departure from her previous style, marking its Australian debut. These oil paintings, in varying sizes, explored themes of memory and psychological depth, with glimpses of landscapes from her coastal hometown and Beijing's Temple of Earth. Her works were noted for their intriguing, dreamlike quality, reflecting her training at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and her ability to synthesize diverse artistic influences. Her paintings acted as "inner conversations", blending eastern and western techniques.
Vermilion Art's focused presentation of Chen Wenling and Gao Ping at the Melbourne Art Fair 2025 effectively highlighted the gallery's significant role in bringing compelling contemporary Chinese artistic voices to the Australian art scene. Chen Wenling's bold and satirical sculptures, including his new 2024 works, offered a critical lens on contemporary Chinese society, while Gao Ping's nuanced paintings, including her new series, beautifully synthesized Eastern and Western artistic traditions, forging a distinctive and engaging visual dialogue. Together, their works provided a rich and multifaceted glimpse into the vitality and diversity of contemporary Chinese art, making a valuable contribution to the cultural exchange fostered by the Melbourne Art Fair.
