How does one paint spirits? Not the paranormal, movie-like ghosts, but the existence beyond the physical realm. I’m not sure anyone knows, but I feel that liang is on the right path with his peculiar approach and technique. His current solo at nicodimgallery in Bucharest provides a great insight into how he is transforming figuration and representation to enter the realm between existence and belief or presumption.

Comprising a large body of new paintings, Ash to Ashes convey the perpetual rebirth and evolution taking place on our planet. Taking the role of an alchemist rather than the image-maker, LiangFu is grinding raw pigments mixed with water to pervade the canvas surface (I wish I had the real, glittery macro closeups of these). The marks and stains resulting from that process are eventually guided in a way so they resemble human form or some of its quality. Although seemingly non-representational or abstract, traditional values such as light (the scarcity of it makes it extra essential), color palette, composition, or atmosphere are their prominent qualities. And I purposely used the term “guiding” cause the Chinese Paris-based artist is purposely using an exceptionally liquid medium, which limits the amount of control he has. Allowing for the substance made from living matter, the minerals, to once again breathe life into something, or at least suggest it, the card of ambiguity is what makes the work so captivating.

Oftentimes painted from staged photos that are edited, prepared, and cropped, the images are removed from their obvious connection with real life. The altered colors and recognizable shapes come forward only after a focused observation, revealing figures shrouded under a veil, tissue, mist, or something non-existent in the physical world. And even when recognized, they continuously fluctuate, changing the appearance and ambiance of the image and bringing forward the concept of entropy. Placing himself in the position of a conductor, Fu is merely providing the circumstances for these cosmic processes to realize and continue their eternal transmutation from one form into another. Turning ash to ashes…