For the first time in Italy, a retrospective dedicated to Mao Xuhui (Sichuan, 1956), a central figure of contemporary Chinese avant-garde. The exhibition presents 43 works spanning fifty years of painting, exploring themes such as authority, memory, and the relationship between the individual and family structures.
Trained at the Yunnan Arts University, Mao contributed to the ‘85 New Wave movement and co-founded the Southwestern Art Research Group in Kunming. His practice, defined as “life painting,” transforms everyday objects — like scissors — into symbols of control, power, and vulnerability, reflecting the interplay between private experience and collective memory.
Curated by Lü Peng, Li Guohua, and Carlotta Scarpa, the exhibition is hosted on the second floor of Palazzo Grimani, creating a dialogue with the Renaissance history of the building and Venice’s cultural heritage. The first illustrated biography of the artist, edited by Lü Peng and published by Skira, is presented on this occasion.
An insightful reflection on family, authority, and the transformation of the individual in contemporary society, offering a profound perspective on Chinese history and culture that remains relevant today.
