Talk and opening reception: Sunday 15 February at 3pm

To celebrate Chinese New Year 2015, the Gallery of Photography is proud to present the first exhibition in Ireland of work by Beijing artist Qingsong Wang, one of China’s most innovative contemporary artists.

Wang’s large colour photographs embody an insider’s perspective on China’s whirlwind transformation into a global economic superpower. Born in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang in 1966 – the same year as Mao launched the Cultural Revolution – Wang’s artworks are inspired by his own experiences of what are among the most dramatic social transformations in recent world history: the post-Mao economic opening to the west; massive migration from the countryside to the rapidly growing urban centres; and the enthusiastic embrace of global consumer culture in contemporary China. Working like a film director with vast sets, Wang constructs elaborate, richly detailed scenarios involving a large cast of actors and many props. His approach combines a wealth of references to traditional Chinese art with a decidedly modern, cinematic scope. The resulting works are funny, sad, angry, perplexing and provocative – all at the same time.

Everything is Possible features eight of Qingsong Wang’s large-scale photo works, among them a new diptych completed only last year. A video work ‘Skyscraper’ is also included. This wry take on the building boom will hold particular resonance for Irish audiences. A series of behind-the-scenes short documentaries also give insights into the artist’s production process.

About the artist: Born in Heilongjiang Province in 1966, Qingsong Wang worked on a oil drilling platform for eight years before training as a painter at the Sichuan Academy of Fine Art. He graduated in 1992 and moved to Beijing the following year. Since he turned to photography in the late 1990s, he has exhibited widely in China and internationally. He represented China at the 2013 Venice Biennale.

A comprehensive website is available, in English and in Mandarin, at: http://www.wangqingsong.com

Acknowledgements: The Gallery of Photography would like to thank the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival, Dublin City Council, the Arts Council, and The Poster Company for their support for this exhibition. Our sincere thanks also to Qingsong Wang and Zhang Fang in Beijing, for their wholehearted cooperation and unstinting assistance during the preparation of this exhibition.