Jia Aili’s cinematic compositions depict arid landscapes alongside futuristic architectural forms, conveying both hope and anxiety about our increasingly technological world. Best known as an oil painter, his dramatic palette uses Caravaggio-esque chiaroscuro, pairing dark greys, blues and blacks against bright white brushstrokes. Driven by emotion and experimentation, process is fundamental to his work. In Mountain and Wave Line (2020), for example, a tranquil mountain range reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich is encased in a white, free-standing frame. In front of the canvas is a sheet of glass where soft, briskly drawn scribbles whip across the surface. These new materials and modes of display bring art back to one of its fundamental roots: emotional expression via the material exploration of paint.
