Ding Shilun: Janus

Explore an artistic world where personal mythology and cultural influences converge in ethereal and occasionally ominous imagery. Ding Shilun: Janus is on view through April 13 at the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami, marking the artist's first solo exhibition in a United States museum.

The exhibition showcases newly commissioned paintings and a site-specific installation that feature Shilun's distinctive approach to storytelling, which he describes as a "personal fable." His works present self-contained, often ambiguous scenes utilizing figures as avatars of the artist himself—reflections of his experiences navigating different cultures and ideologies. The exhibition title references the Roman god Janus, who presides over beginnings and endings, highlighting the paradoxical nature of Shilun's artistic vision.

Shilun's paintings draw from diverse influences, including Nuo opera from Chinese folk religion, traditional Chinese folklore and Francisco Goya's celebrated prints such as Los caprichos. His technique involves applying numerous thin layers of diluted oil paint to mimic the water-based pigments of traditional Chinese gongbi painting, creating a striking contrast between delicate methodology and volatile imagery.

Born in Guangzhou, China in 1998, Shilun earned his MA in painting from London's Royal College of Art in 2022. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the Zabludowicz Collection in London and the Guangdong Museum in China, and is included in several prominent collections including ICA Miami, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Albertina Museum in Vienna.

The exhibition is organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami and curated by Amanda Morgan, Assistant Curator of Exhibitions and Publications.