The exhibition themed “Post-Garden Spectacle” opened at SIP Urban Art Space on Sept 28 and will last till Nov 16. It highlights a huge landscape painting by Suzhou-native artist Yao Yongqiang and an array of creations based on it, offering a contemporary decoding of traditional Chinese gardens.

At the heart of the 150-square-meter exhibition space is Yao’s largest garden piece to date. This monumental work, displayed across four large screens, features a turquoise hue. While preserving elements of classical Suzhou-style gardens like Taihu Stone and winding paths, it presents motifs of modern architecture such as the Jinji Station and the “Flying” sculpture in SIP, creating a dynamic dialogue between traditional landscape aesthetics and contemporary visual language.

There are animated installations on site, through which Yao’s static paintings have become lively and dynamic. This redefines classical aesthetics for modern audiences.

The exhibition also encompasses over 40 works created with traditional crafts like Kesi (a traditional silk tapestry weaving technique) and jade carving to translate the geometric patterns from Yao’s painting art into tangible daily aesthetics.

September 30, 2025