Lei Gu

I'm Gu, Lei (b.1971, Shanghai). I studied at the Shanghai Xingzhi Art Normal school and driven by a profound passion for art, I resolutely embarked on the path of a self-taught, independent artist.

In my early works, I was deeply influenced by the Expressionist master Anselm Kiefer, focusing more on expressing profound reflections on the weight of history, human and space. As I came to understand and deeply resonate with Eastern Buddhism and Zen philosophy, my painting gradually shifted towards abstraction and the Xieyi (expressive freehand) style. And from that time, I began exploring new forms of expression, including the integration of Chinese ink and acrylic, as well as freestyle woodcut.

Through my art, I hope to explore the dialectical relationships between ‘presence and absence’ and ‘the solid and the void’ . I tried to combine fluidity, resistance, and blank space to express my observations and experiences of the world, as well as my rethink on humanity and nature.