10 Questions with Zhengyuan Gao

Zhengyuan Gao, known by his artistic alias Cooper, is an emerging artist with a rich and diverse background. Initially drawn by a profound affinity for rationality, Cooper delved into the study of mathematics and econometrics in various countries before discovering his artistic calling. After completing his Ph.D. in Amsterdam, he ventured into academia, holding academic positions in Chengdu, Iowa City, and Louvain-la-Neuve, where he conducted econometrics research and engaged in teaching. Over time, his passion expanded beyond economics, encompassing broader social subjects.

In 2019, Cooper took a bold leap into the realm of freelance artistry, dedicating two transformative years to a comprehensive reading material project before venturing into novel writing. Two published novels now stand as testimonies to his imaginative and lighthearted explorations of social, political, and philosophical landscapes.

Since 2022, Cooper has discovered a captivating artistic haven in Jingdezhen, China. With fervor, he engages in a range of creative avenues, including pottery, painting, and active community involvement, breathing life into his artistic expression. With an unwavering focus on painting, he diligently cultivates his craft and immerses himself in the creative process.

In 2023, Cooper's artworks made their debut on the front and back covers of the Modern Renaissance Magazine. Among these pieces, one artwork won Cooper's first artistic award at the "Art Resilience" exhibition, hosted by Musée de Peinture de Saint-Frajou.

Cooper warmly welcomes and connects with the vibrant artistic community around him, drawing inspiration and fostering enriching collaborations with local artists. Demonstrating a forward-thinking approach, he actively develops an online gallery, serving as a platform for sharing his creations and connecting with art enthusiasts worldwide.

spectragallery.github.io/cooper | @dinosaur.a1

ARTIST STATEMENT

Cooper's artistic odyssey began as a refuge from the intricate complexities of his previous rational pursuits. Art initially served as a sanctuary, a refuge where Cooper could seek solace, a respite from the entanglements of the mind. However, it has since evolved into something far greater—a conduit of transformation, a catalyst for spiritual renewal that permeates every fibre of his own being.

In his paintings, Cooper embarks on a quest to uncover the hidden poetic essence of the episodes he confronted. Through brushstrokes, colours, and shapes, he weaves a tapestry of different kinds of logic, a poetic logic, delicately interlacing the threads of his imagination. Each stroke becomes an arsenal of manoeuvres, a means to dismantle the fallacies that masquerade as "the good" and "the true" within his personal maze, freeing the ideas from deceptive façades.

The fusion of art and poetic logic acts as Cooper's guiding compass, leading him to uncharted territories and inspiring him to transcend conventional thinking. He seeks to challenge boundaries and carve out a realm where his creativity flows boundlessly.

Through his art, Cooper strives to establish a profound dialogue with viewers, communicating thoughts and emotions through visual language in an alternative reality. His visual storytelling invites beholders to explore fresh perspectives, illuminating their own contemplations and the transformative power of art.

Cooper's artistic exploration is a journey of self-discovery and uninhibited creativity. It serves as a liberating force, freeing him from past constraints and enabling his work to evolve and inspire. Harnessing the transformative potential of every brushstroke, colour, and shape, Cooper, as an emerging artist, crafts a captivating narrative of artistic expression and exploration with each artistic stroke.

Inferno In The New Age, Acrylic, 130x100 cm, 2023 © Zhengyuan Gao

INTERVIEW

First of all, tell our readers a little bit about you. Who are you, and how did you start experimenting with images?

I am a person enriched by diverse interests, particularly in mathematics, social structures, and arts. Despite the apparent conflict and contradiction among these varied pursuits, I am guided by a belief that they all converge towards a singular destiny—where my true passion lies. My initiation into the realm of images began with an understanding that visual exploration stands at the forefront of innovation and interpretation. Much like an infant learns to comprehend the world through observing their surroundings, I believe engaging with images can catalyze a deeper reflection on the messages and meanings I wish to convey, consciously and subconsciously. Through the lens of the image, I commune with the unseen, the spaces between, where the silent language of the universe unfolds. This journey through visual stimuli is not just about creating or viewing images. It is here, in this sacred interplay of light and shadow, that I find an alternative form of my purpose and my voice.

You studied mathematics and econometrics before turning to art. What inspired you to pursue this career?

My experience in mathematics and econometrics tells me that it is a world awash with its own arcane symbols and hidden meanings. These disciplines, though seemingly disparate from the art of painting, share a profound commonality—the use of symbols as conduits for ideas, as mystical signals that hold the power to communicate and connect. Through teaching mathematics and econometrics, I learned the art of distillation—converting abstract concepts into tangible visuals that resonate with the soul. I discovered the transformative power of an image and its ability to convey volumes where words falter.
My trip from the structured logic of mathematics to the boundless expression of art was guided by a realization: the chasm between these worlds is an illusion, a mere veil that grows thinner with each passing moment and the advent of new tools that bridge these domains. This revelation was a beacon, leading me away from the predictable trajectories of my former discipline towards the enigmatic embrace of art.
I must admit that at the beginning of this artistic journey, I felt as though I had entered a labyrinth of my own making, leaving behind the predictability of my past pursuits. But a call to adventure, a deep, resonant voice urging me to seek the extraordinary and explore further in this direction. Through art I could unravel the mysteries of a new path, a new possibility beyond the previous predictable future. And as I journey deeper, the landscape around me shifts, revealing vistas of unparalleled beauty and complexity. This transition has not been a departure but an evolution, a fusion of the analytical and the intuitive. It has allowed me to weave a new nexus of understanding, one that marries the precision of mathematics with the fluidity of art. This synthesis, I believe, is key to unlocking a more profound interpretation of my world.

Infernal Dance - Permutation, acrylic, 170x110 cm, 2023 © Zhengyuan Gao

Infernal Parliament In The East, acrylic, 130x110 cm, 2023 © Zhengyuan Gao

You also wrote two novels. How does your approach to art change when writing as opposed to when you paint?

For me, writing transcends mere expression of personal sentiments; it serves as a meticulous process of cataloging and reshaping my thoughts. I am still writing. It just took me eight months to complete a draft that ventures into the realms of art and mysticism, envisioning the foundation of a spiritual community.
Writing is my cerebral endeavor, aiming not just to narrate but to enlighten, guiding me through a more structured exploration of ideas. Conversely, painting is an act of pure embodiment, where emotions transcend the confines of thought and manifest in color and form. It is here, in the silence between brushstrokes, that I encounter the raw essence of being. This art does not seek to explain but to evoke, to whisper secrets meant only for the heart.
Though seemingly at odds, these two expressions of my essence are but two sides of the same coin by which my intellectual and emotional pursuits balance. Writing and painting serve as the dual alchemical ingredients in my quest for the Philosophers' Stone—my own synthesis of understanding and experience. Just as the alchemists sought transformation through the union of sulfur and mercury, solid and liquid, I also seek a grand alchemy. Through the written word and painted vision, I navigate the polarities of existence, crafting a vessel for the soul's journey toward enlightenment. This fusion, this alchemical marriage of opposites, becomes my path to forging the "stone," a holistic symbol to express both myself and the world around me.

What is your personal aim as an artist?

On the surface, my journey into art is a quest for personal growth and a means to enrich my social existence. However, a deeper intuition guides me, revealing that art's purpose extends far beyond these initial aspirations. This journey represents a pivotal shift in my trajectory, introducing an orthogonal perspective to my previous experiences.
In essence, art for me is about establishing a novel foundational basis, one that is orthogonal to the previous paradigms of my life to form a complex plane—a richer, more intricate space of existence and expression. My goal as an artist is to harness this expanded dimensional basis to sculpt and delineate forms that are impossible within the confines of a sole base. Through this approach, I aim to unlock and depict the more intricate and multifaceted shapes of thought, emotion, and experience, crafting a visual language that invites a deeper engagement with the essence.

Bleu Combustion, acrylic, 160x120 cm, 2023 © Zhengyuan Gao

What is your favorite experience as an artist so far?

"Touch the ground" — this would be my favorite time as an artist. There was a time when I felt adrift as if floating amongst the clouds. This ethereal existence was both a support and a constraint, invisible forces that simultaneously uplifted and oppressed me, leaving me paralyzed by the fear of an inevitable descent.
Now, as an artist, I have descended from the clouds to embrace the earth beneath my feet. My hands, once hesitant, now eagerly delve into the primordial essence of creation: pigments and clays, the raw materials from which visions are born. This tactile communion with the elements has been a profound revelation, teaching me to understand and respect the potent alchemy of these substances. In mastering their use, I've begun to weave my own foundation, crafting supports from the very essence of the earth itself.
In embracing the earth, I no longer fear the fall — for I know now that the ground upon which I stand is the very essence of my artistry.

You have a distinctive style, both in terms of subjects and colors. How did you develop this?

At the heart of my practice are the elemental shapes and core colors—abstract forms and primary plus secondary hues—that act as the building blocks for my creative constructions. These fundamental components are the lenses through which I view and interpret the subjects that captivate me. My process of creation is one of experimentation and intuition. I immerse myself in the synthesis of these basic elements, allowing them to guide my exploration of various themes until I reach a point where the artwork resonates with the message I aim to convey. This cessation of experimentation is not dictated by a pursuit of perfection but by a fulfillment of aesthetic and communicative intent.
I consider myself an artist guided by internal standards of beauty and resonance rather than external benchmarks of excellence. My goal is not to adhere to the rigidity of academic norms but to ensure my art evokes the desired sensations and emotions in those who experience it. As long as my work aligns with my aesthetic values, I am content. This approach may diverge from traditional academic criteria, but it is the sincerity of the expression that matters most, ensuring my art remains true to my vision and inviting a meaningful engagement with my dear audience.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your work? Do you have any specific references?

I often find myself drawn to the enigmatic interplay of the intricate beauty in religious paintings and the bold strokes in modern impressionism. Such a blend of opposites might seem incongruent, yet it forms the heart of my creative exploration.
With the advent of AI, the boundaries of artistic experimentation have expanded exponentially, enabling me to weave together the structural depth of medieval and religious art with the emotive freedom of modern movements. This integration is not about a slavish adherence to any single style or the capabilities of AI but about pushing the limits of my own creative expression.
My soul resonates with the intricate sanctity found within the works of masters like Rembrandt, Titian, and Brueghel, whose canvases are steeped in divine allegory and human emotion. Equally, the avant-garde whispers of the Ashcan school and the Pont-Aven school call to me, urging a leap into colors and forms unbound by tradition. My engagement with AI is not a capitulation to its cold logic but an embrace of its potential to extend the boundaries of my artistic explorations. This technological advancement is not just a tool but a collaborator that magnifies my ability to experiment and realize my vision. Therefore, my gratitude extends to this digital muse.

What do you think about the art community and market?

I have some structural reflections concerning these two themes, which I wrote in several essays, though they remain unpublished for the time being. Hopefully, these works will eventually find their way to the public. But put it in a simple way, I think the art community acts as a mirror to humanity's deepest shades, embodying the complex, often indescribable facets and rich hues of our collective soul. This depth casts a vast spectrum over the market, a visible spectrum of the community's heartbeat, resonating with the outer world. The market itself functions as the nexus through which the community engages with the broader world. While I may not be able to discern every hue within this spectrum immediately, it seems to revolve around the principles of creation, competition, and elevation—elements that, in their essence, weave a recursive and, perhaps, mystical narrative of the thought forms.

Pottering Around In An Imaginary World, acrylic, 90x60 cm, 2023 © Zhengyuan Gao

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

In the past eight months, my creative journey took a detour from the canvas as I dedicated myself to drafting a new book and composing an academic paper, both nestled at the intersection of mysticism and the arts. With the completion of these drafts, I stand at the threshold of returning to my painting endeavors, yet I find myself transformed by this intellectual sabbatical. The deep dive into the mystical has ignited a desire to weave more esoteric threads into my art.
The convergence of mysticism with my artistic and intellectual journeys has revealed a fascinating nexus, a place of powerful synergy that I am eager to explore further. My future plans include creating a course and a series of seminars designed to explore the rich dialogues between mysticism, science, and socioeconomics.
Moreover, I am drawn to the challenge of discovering and experimenting with art forms that can serve as catalysts or conduits for Chinese mysticism. This pursuit is not just an exploration of cultural and spiritual heritage; it is a quest to uncover new expressions and modalities of art that resonate with ancient wisdom yet speak to contemporary souls.

And finally, what is your biggest career goal for the rest of 2024?

For the remainder of 2024, my paramount career objective is to forge deeper connections within the artistic community and to immerse myself in projects that resonate with my passion for art. A significant milestone I aspire to reach is the successful launch of a course or seminar series that not only comes to fruition but also captivates and draws in an audience deeply interested in the confluence of art and mysticism. Moreover, through this journey, I hope to complete a series of paintings that could vividly bring to life my concept of Neo-Sino-Mysticism.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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