totemdongbay@gmail.com
He earned a BS in Applied Chemistry from the Beijing Institute of Technology before transitioning to a Master’s degree in Visual Arts from the Pratt Institute in New York. This diverse educational background blends scientific inquiry with artistic expression, equipping him with a unique approach to analysis, experimentation, and aesthetics. Dongbay’s creative process involves immersive research and fieldwork, often leading him to spend significant time in the environments and communities he studies.
Dongbay’s body of work spans multiple forms, including non-fiction writing, installations, paintings, and films, with a particular focus on visual and tactile elements. Central to his practice is an exploration of the relationship between humans and nature. His art and lifestyle both embody the concept of the eco-warrior, where he strives to integrate modern civilization’s advancements with an ongoing connection to the earth's most direct and essential truths.
Through his work, Dongbay emphasizes humanity's responsibility to restore balance between civilization and nature. He challenges viewers to reconsider the consequences of industrialized existence and to engage in a more conscious relationship with the natural world. His art serves as both a call to action and a reflection on the need to maintain harmony between progress and the earth's essential, primitive truths.
Dongbay believes that humanity is currently in a critical phase he describes as the "Apocalypse of Faith," a point in the cyclical evolution of belief systems. This cycle moves from the emergence of faith to indulgence and desire, leading to a loss of faith, followed by a crisis, and eventually redemption and renewal. In today's world, where advanced tools increasingly permeates and shapes our lives, Dongbay sees an urgent need for a belief system that aligns spiritual values with the realities of the modern, industrialized world. This concept forms the foundation of his project - "Synthetic Totem."
"Synthetic Totem" reflects Dongbay's idea that the essential wisdom and connection to the physical world, once derived from direct interaction with nature, must now be rediscovered in the context of urban life. He suggests that the functional elements of modern cities—technological advancements, infrastructure, and material artifacts—can be reinterpreted as totems that connect us to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our environment. By gathering and reconfiguring these urban elements, Dongbay creates a system that integrates aesthetic, spiritual, and practical dimensions into his artistic practice.
Dongbay's approach to art emphasizes process and experimentation. He values the unpredictability and discovery that come through creative exploration rather than following a fixed plan. At the same time, his work is guided by a topological approach of observations towards reality. The combination of both balances chaos with structure, allowing him to bring order to the randomness inherent in artistic creation. This method insights enables Dongbay to continuously evolve his work, adapting his observations and into a coherent yet dynamic artistic framework.
Curriculum Vitae
Educations
2020 MFA, Pratt Institute, New York, USA
2017 BS, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Media & Publications
2024 CarharttWIP, Online Interview, China
2023 Umay Art Project, Artist Talk, 798 Cube, Beijing, China
2022 4 Crimes To Individuation, Book Published, China
2021 Good Night Press, Online Interview, China
Exhibitions
2024 NIKE Jaya Center, Shanghai, China. Group Exhibition
2024 ALL Space, Shanghai, China. Group Exhibition, On The List
2024 K66 Art Space, Shanghai, China. Group Exhibition, Resample
2023 Parkview Green Art Center, Beijing, China. Group Exhibition, Traceable
2023 798 CUBE, Beijing, China. Group Exhibition, De wereld Wat Met Handvat getembi lk?
2023 Baimiao Center, Beijing, China. Group Exhibition, The Trip Of A Skin
2022 Boomer Gallery, London, UK. Group Exhibition, Vogue | 5th Edition
2021 Streams Gallery, Hong Kong. Group Exhibition, Write 4 Fun