Geng Jianyi
A Pioneer of Contemporary Chinese Art: The Life and Legacy of Geng Jianyi Geng Jianyi (1962-2017) stands as a pivotal figure in the evolution of contemporary art in China, a restless innovator whose work mirrored and often subtly critiqued the rapid societal transformations unfolding around him. Born in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, he emerged during a period of immense cultural and political upheaval, becoming a leading voice within the influential ’85 New Wave movement. His career wasn’t defined by adherence to a single style but rather by a relentless exploration of media – from oil painting…
The Subject Atlas
A chart of Geng Jianyi's corpus mapped not by date but by subject. Spokes are what they painted; rings are when; and the threads between stars reveal the patrons and places that secretly connect them.
Spokes — Subject
Each arm of the atlas gathers works by what they depict: portraits, sacred scenes, mythologies, and the scientific studies. Click a spoke to swing that cluster to the top.
Rings — Career Period
Distance from the center marks time. The innermost ring is the earliest period; the outermost, the final years. Style matures as you move outward.
Threads — Shared Context
Coloured lines link works bound by the same patron, commission, or theme. Trace a context to watch related clusters light up across subjects.
