JIANG Heng (1972-) is a Chinese artist who explores the concept of authenticity amidst rapid technological advancements. Drawing inspiration from 1990s cartoons, pop culture, and pixels from the digital world, the artist examines the interplay between the real and the virtual, raising profound existential questions. Since the 2010s, JIANG has created a series of paintings focused on artificial hair, a subject rich in historical and cultural significance. He explores the symbolic and practical roles of wigs and artificial hair throughout history, highlighting their often-overlooked connections to politics, social status, religion, fashion, gender, and hierarchy over millennia. Rendered in a hyper-realistic style, his depictions of hair blur the line between reality and abstraction. Up close, the intricate details achieve photographic precision; from a distance, the forms transform into minimalist symbols. By situating artificial hair within the broader context of human civilisation, JIANG sparks the viewer’s imagination, challenging perceptions of reality and illusion.
JIANG Heng has exhibited at prestigious institutions both
within and beyond China, including Guangdong Museum of Art (Guangdong), Shanghai
Art Museum (Shanghai), Today Art Museum (Beijing), National Taiwan Museum of
Fine Arts (Taipei, Taiwan), Museo Civico Belliniano (Catania, Italy), Museo
Nacional de las Cultural (Mexico City, Mexico), and the UNESCO headquarter (Pairs,
France). His works are part of renowned public collections, including Guangdong Museum
of Art (Guangdong), Hubei Museum of Art (Hubei), He Xiangning Art Museum (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Art Museum (Shenzhen), Sifang Art Museum (Nanjing, China), Mingyuan Art Museum (Shanghai), Museo Civico Belliniano (Catania, Italy), Mantova Youth Museum (Italy), and Museo Nacional de las Cultural (Mexico City, Mexico), in addition to numerous private and corporate collections in
Belgium, South Korea, France, Australia, England, Switzerland, and
more. Significant references to JIANG’s works can be found in prominent publications,
including Chinese Contemporary Art History 1978-1999 by Lu Hong, A
History of Chinese Fine Arts: 1949-2000 by Zou Yuejin, 20 Aspects of
Contemporary Art China by He Weiping, History of Chinese Oil Painting,
China Youth Publishing Group by Liu Chun, China Avant-garde Art
1979-2004 by Lu Hong, Witnessing Chinese Contemporary Art by Ma
Qinzhong, History of Chinese Oil Painting (updated edition) by Liu Chun,
and Chinese Contemporary Art History (college textbook) by Lu Hong. JIANG
has been
teaching at the School of Arts and Design of Guangdong University of Technology
since 1996 as Master’s Supervisor and Associate Professor.
In March 2025, JIANG works will be showcased at Hakgojae Gallery’s booth at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025. Launched in 2013 by Art Basel, a premier international art fair that has significantly influenced the contemporary art landscape since its perception in 1970, Art Basel Hong Kong has maintained its position as one of the most prominent international art fairs in Asia. Hakgojae Gallery looks forward to presenting JIANG’s distinctive artistic vision to a global audience, fostering meaningful connections within the international art community and contributing to the ongoing dialogue of contemporary art at one of the world’s most influential art fairs.
