Fan Dongwang
Chinese-Australian Artist
范东旺 - 澳洲华裔艺术家
Syncretic Visions
Fan Dongwang solo exhibition, ACU Sydney
Syncretic Visions
McGlade Gallery
Australian Catholic University
2018
Syncretic Visions is comprised of works that traverse the notions of Buddhism, Daoism and Christianity. It investigates the East and West cultures and ideologies through the sculptural painting flair of Fan. This cross cultural, multidimensional shift of perspective and syncretic visual interpretation of religions and other matters, challenges often contradictory beliefs, philosophies, cultures and schools of thought. Through this juxtaposition a dialogue is created as subjects are merged with an array of cultural semiotics drawn from elements such as brocade print, screens, the dragon and the crucifix, relaying the metaphors within Fan's paintings. The placement of disparate objects and religious iconography leads the viewer to inquiry and investigation of the scaffolding meanings within the painter's works.