Unspoken Red Swings - Opening Reception

This exhibition explores the intersection of visual, spiritual, and emotional dimensions, delving into the profound interplay of colour, texture, and poetic depth. Featuring a range of international contemporary artists, including paintings, installations, and sculptures, the exhibition responds to the emotional intensity of classical literature. Through layers of colour and sculpted textures, it creates a cross-temporal and cross-cultural dialogue on time, memory, and sentiment, inviting audiences to experience how contemporary art perpetuates the eternal essence of literary poetry in both abstract and figurative forms.

“Unspoken Red Swings” is inspired by the timeless verse of Chinese poet Ouyang Xiu (Song Dynasty, 1007-1072) “Tearful eyes question the flowers, but they remain silent; scattered petals drift past the swings.” In this poem, “scattered petals” symbolise fallen blossoms, carrying connotations of farewell, remembrance, and impermanence, while “swings” metaphorically represent the passage of time and the ebb and flow of emotions. The exhibition’s title, “Unspoken Red Swings”, encapsulates the free-flowing nature of colour compositions, akin to petals carried by the wind, and the interplay of emotions embedded within layered brushstrokes. It evokes contemplation on time, memory, and the transient nature of life.

Ouyang Xiu’s poetry endures through the ages for its profound emotional depth, delicate imagery, and unique philosophical insight. “Tearful eyes question the flowers, but they remain silent” conveys a sense of longing and the unyielding passage of time, while “scattered petals drift past the swings” encapsulates themes of separation, loss, and nostalgia—universal sentiments that transcend time and culture. The imagery of swings not only introduces spatial movement but also serves as a metaphor for life’s cyclical nature. As time progresses, emotions and memories drift like the wind, sometimes drawing near, sometimes fading away.

This exhibition brings together Eastern and Western artists who reinterpret these poetic sensibilities through contemporary artistic expressions. Thick, impasto brushstrokes reimagine the dynamic motion of “scattered petals in the wind,” while layered light and shadow create a visual rhythm akin to the movement of swings, oscillating between disappearance and recollection. Material layering and sculpted textures act as imprints of time, reflecting the fragmentation and continuation of memory. Through the fluidity of colour, the accumulation of material, and the sculpting of textures, artists translate poetic imagery into visual language, breathing new life into classical poetry through contemporary artistic discourse.

This exhibition is not merely an exploration of literature, poetics, and artistic expression, but also an introspective response to spirituality and philosophy. From Ouyang Xiu’s verses to contemporary artistic interpretations, “Unspoken Red Swings” transforms colour into a language of emotion, recording the traces of life while allowing audiences to experience the distant echoes of poetry through shifting light and textures. In this convergence of colour and touch, we invite every visitor to embark on this poetic journey—one that transcends time, bridges East and West, and connects language, visuals, time, emotions, and art.

Participating Artists:

Thierry Feuz

Christiane Grimm

Carol Prusa

Cao Jigang

Riera i Aragó

Dirk Salz

Nick Veasey

Pascal Dombis

Marck

François Bonnel

Beñat Olaberria

Kari Anne Helleberg Bahri

Jan Kalab

Eunice Cheung Wai Man

“Unspoken Red Swings” Group Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: Aug 7, 2025 – September 21, 2025 

Bluerider ART London·Mayfair

47 Albemarle Street, London, W1S 4JW

Open daily, 10:00-18:00

info.uk@blueriderart.com

T: 020-39037827