Get a print of One Second

Artwork Description

One second is the time limitation of painting. Time can be seen through this limitation, and one second would appear differently. The great distinction between one second and one year sometime could be subtle as well. Many things could be changed in one year, or perhaps nothing happens. Zhao painted numerous lines by the second. Short and constrained, they exist in their way but appear to be trivial and meaningless. Two of these line paintings were dramatically blown up, which took a whole year for Zhao to finish them. Considering 31,536,000 seconds in a year, it may seem like a work in vain. However, for his own life of the year, no matter how much attention he had paid to this painting, it finally became a sporadic memory. We all have similar experiences: time flies, and the future remains uncertain, just like a sealed book.The juxtaposition of one second and one year is like a story with an untold beginning and ending. Thus, people can imagine any unknown happenings during this period. Things may be trivial, painful or depressive, but perhaps he is so happy that he doesn’t care about it.When One Second appears as a conceptual action, it raises a challenge to painting, and counters against slow temporality, controllability, and repeatability in the history of painting. In other words, One Second is the questioning to time or the span of life. However, more or less, there is a touch of heroism.

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Artist Biography

The Convergence of Heritage and Intellect

In the burgeoning landscape of contemporary art, few voices resonate with as much poised duality as Xueyang Zhao. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1999, Zhao—often known by her name Erica—is an artist whose work is deeply informed by a rigorous intellectual foundation. Currently navigating the complex intersection of finance and art history through Tulane University’s prestigious Altman Program, she brings a unique analytical depth to her creative practice. This academic pursuit of language, culture, and economic structure does not compete with her artistry; rather, it provides the scaffolding upon which her visual narratives are built, allowing her to bridge the gap between classical tradition and modern innovation. Her journey is one of constant exploration, where the precision of her studies meets the fluid, emotive power of her brushwork.

A Symphony of Symbolism and Color

Zhao’s aesthetic is a vibrant dialogue between the seen and the symbolic, characterized by an unapologetic use of bold, emotive colors and meticulous detail. Her work often functions as a bridge between Eastern and Western influences, weaving together disparate cultural threads into a single, cohesive tapestry. She frequently employs motifs that act as profound cultural anchors; for instance, her recurring use of peaches serves as a nod to Eastern symbolism, representing longevity and prosperity. This is paired with the ethereal beauty of jade constellations, inspired by Chinese mythology, creating a stylistic fusion that feels both ancient and avant-garde. In signature pieces such as Peach, her impressionistic oil technique utilizes textured brushstrokes to capture an essence of intimacy and natural grace, inviting the viewer into a world where nature and myth are inextricably linked.

Materiality and the Weight of Memory

Beyond the surface beauty of her palette, Zhao’s exploration extends into the profound weight of human experience and the permanence of memory. Her ability to manipulate medium is as striking as her use of color, demonstrating a mastery over both the delicate and the monumental. In the poignant work Fragments, created in 2015, she responds to the tragedy of the Tianjin explosion by utilizing a large-scale brass plate. Here, the jagged edges of the metal mimic broken glass, transforming a moment of chaotic destruction into an object of eternal, golden contemplation. This capacity for introspection is equally evident in her Self-Portrait, where light and shadow are used to sculpt a quiet, internal monologue. Whether capturing the photographic realism of architectural grandeur in Madrid or the visceral textures of historical trauma, Zhao’s art remains a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of visual storytelling.

xueyang zhao

1999 - , United States of America

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Impressionism & Pop Art
Date Of Birth: 1999
Full Name: xueyang zhao / erica zhao
Nationality: American
Notable Artworks:
- Madrid
- Peach
Place Of Birth: Washington, United States

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