Kong Lingnan

Kong Lingnan is a Chinese artist who approaches the human condition and the process of transformation from the standpoint of an observer, delving into spirituality and culture through the lens of individual experiences.

Biography of Kong Lingnan

Kong Lingnan was born in 1983 in Jilin Province, China. In 2007, she completed her studies at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Later, in 2018, Lingnan graduated from Chelsea College of Art and Design in London.

In 2016, she presented her solo project at Hong Kong in Discoveries Section.

Kong Lingnan's solo exhibitions include "Shepherding Fish" at Capsule Shanghai in Shanghai (2022), "Contours" at Gallery Yang in Beijing (2017), "May 15, 2015. A307" at Hong Yuan Apartment A307 in Beijing (2015), 'Beach" at Gallery Yang in Beijing (2014), "Write in Water" at Gallery Yang in Beijing (2013), and "Only Her Body" at UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing.

The artist has also participated in various group shows, including but not limited to "Splendor of the Sun" at Galerie du Monde in Hong Kong (2023), "Symbiosis" at the 2022 Beijing Biennial in Beijing (2022), "Being" at Wanying Art Gallery in Shijiazhuang (2016), "Nihilistic Belief" at Antenna Space in Shanghai (2014), and many more.

Currently, Kong Lingnan lives and works in Beijing, China.

Kong Lingnan's Art Style

In her earlier works, Kong Lingnan depicted a world characterized by uniformity, a world in which the self and the universe merged seamlessly. Her pieces featured scenes like islands and constellations, which emitted a neon-like glow. She contemplated the human condition and the process of transformation from an observer's vantage point, exploring spirituality and culture through the lens of individual experiences.

In recent years, influenced by the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung and her fascination with mysticism, she endeavors to visualize the concealed connection between humanity and the unseen realm. Her practice has evolved towards an exploration of the inner world, delving into its contradictions and microcosms, its fiery depths and undulating currents, all in pursuit of the fruits of the subconscious.

Centering her focus on the transmutation of spiritual symbols in alchemy, Kong Lingnan creates intricate, small-scale oil paintings on wood that serve as psychological portraits of her friends and imprints of the inner landscape. Through these works, she delineates the depths of personal emotions, encapsulating both sorrow and joy.