Exhibition Details

Galleria Continua, Beijing is proud to announce the opening of Qiu Zhijie’s solo exhibition 'Eco-Lab'.
This exhibition challenges our perceptions of interconnectedness and transformation within the natural world. The artist solo show opens on May 23rd and showcases a fusion of art and science, reflecting the intricate relationships between the biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere and geosphere. 'Eco-Lab' invites visitors to explore a higher-dimensional consciousness and an acute awareness of our surroundings.
The exhibition features a multitude of transformations happening simultaneously: organic growth and decay, geological and cosmic changes, and various human and natural processes. Visitors can witness plants growing through the artwork 'The garden of Forking Paths' but also wood decaying, mold spreading, mushrooms flourishing, and silkworms spinning silk. They can observe stones weathering, crystals forming, stalactites taking shape, and cosmic rays penetrating everything. Seawater evaporates into salt, soil becomes ceramics, and concrete solidifies. The work 'From sand to Glass' perfectly chronicles these transformations.
The exhibition explores four themes. One theme is 'drying' showcasing the drying process of various materials, where fermentation, decay, and growth occur. Another theme is 'transformation': the work 'Glass Transformation' showcases four sets of experiments on the glass transformation, including the glass jellyfish sculptures coated with an electrochromic film, which change color upon the approach of a spectator; a pane of electro-controlled frosted glass.
The work 'The Cosmic Ray Igloo: A Tribute to Mario Merz' features a frame resembling a Mario Merz-style igloo with a transparent display screen installed above it, cosmic ray detection chips transmit images to the screen, while stone slabs beneath the igloo’s frame connect to a meter that displays their radiation value.
Lastly, the theme of 'morphology' reveals the intrinsic mechanisms of form production in sea snails, zebras, and the natural additive manufacturing process akin to 3D printing. 'The Architect' brings together various 'architectural structures' found in Mother Nature, including nests of various animals, plant fruits, ore clusters, and so on.
'Eco-Lab' is a result of extensive collaboration with scientists and laborers from various fields. The exhibition embraces the essence of a laboratory, accepting experimental failures and fostering innovation. Contributions from scientists, research institutions, and graduate students are meticulously acknowledged, creating an ecosystem of collaboration that mirrors the material and energy exchanges in nature.