Whitestone Gallery is pleased to present the first solo exhibition in Korea by Chinese contemporary artist Jiang Miao (姜淼), on view from July 25 to August 23. Majored in printmaking at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Jiang Miao has developed a distinctive artistic language that brings together painting, woodcut printmaking, and the sculptural depth of relief. A defining characteristic of her practice is the meticulous process of building dozens of layers of acrylic paint before carefully carving into the surface to expose the layers of color underneath. These layers preserve the light, air, changing seasons, and the artist's thoughts and sensations, transforming color into a record of time. Through the final act of carving, the accumulated layers are gradually revealed, creating a pictorial space with remarkable depth and dimensionality.

For many years, Jiang Miao has explored Eastern philosophy and the origins of life. Drawing upon concepts such as yin and yang, points, lines, and the spiral, she has developed a visual language rooted in the Eastern philosophy of the unity of heaven and humanity. For the artist, the spiral symbolizes life, time, and the cyclical order of the universe, while color becomes a vessel for invisible energy beyond the material world. The repeated acts of layering and revealing are therefore not merely technical processes, but contemplative gestures that reflect upon time, existence, and spiritual renewal.

Jiang Miao, "Heavenly Eyes 2023.9.2", 2023, Acrylic on wooden board, carving, 66 x 55cm

This exhibition features major series including Heavenly Eyes, Mindfulness, Origin, and Taoist Trinity and the Self. Heavenly Eyes proposes a perspective beyond ordinary human vision, contemplating the essence of existence and the order of the universe, while Mindfulness explores the nature of life through introspection and awakened consciousness. The circular paintings of Taoist Trinity and the Self most succinctly embody Jiang Miao's artistic vision: their endless form symbolizes the perpetual cycle of creation and renewal, encapsulating the artist's reflections on life, time, and cosmic order.

Although each series bears a different title, they are united by a shared inquiry into the relationship between humanity, nature, time, and the universe. Together, they reveal the artistic language and worldview Jiang Miao has cultivated over many years, tracing her ongoing exploration of life, time, and the invisible energies that exist beyond the visible world.