Kaifan Wang

LSS Los Angeles

“Lunar Fountains”

2023 April 1 to May 6

Kaifan’s latest series, Lunar Fountains, draws inspiration from his experience seeing fireworks illuminating the sky in the Michelangelo Square of Florence. A spectacle that brought his attention to the phenomenon in which moondust leaps from the moon’s surface before falling down again, creating the appearance of a fountain; and, like a water fountain, this dust atmosphere looks static, despite being composed of particles in constant motion.

“Whether it's the sparks that burst forth during sculpture casting, the fireworks in the Michelangelo square, or the Lunar fountains, they all involve movement and with movement comes loss, and that loss constitutes undifferentiated dust,” Wang notes. “Through painting, a radical but slow trend of movement is presented, with colors resembling dust settling and continuously layering on top of each other.”

Exploring the philosophical significance of dust and its relationship with life, time, and space, Lunar Fountains features large-scale paintings that are simultaneously static snapshots and dynamic, ever-changing scenes.

Kaifan’s work explores themes of memories, culture, and identity. Born in Hohhot, China, he studied traditional Chinese painting before moving to Beijing, where he encountered contemporary art. Wang continued his studies in Shanghai and Florence, and completed his Fine Arts education in Berlin where he currently lives.