New impressions of Beijing

Artwork is collection of capital's images that sees French painter adopting a visual complexity, Li Yingxue reports.

During his two-month residency in Beijing in late autumn and early winter, French artist Gaspar Willmann found inspiration in the city's quiet details — mingling hues of fallen leaves and the charm of the hutong (alleyways).

These moments became the foundation of success for Willmann, a 2023 Yishu 8 French Young Artist Award winner.

On Dec 7, his solo exhibition Compression was unveiled at Yishu 8, an art platform providing residencies for artists from France and China. The venue is located inside the historical building of the former Sino-French University in Beijing.

The show presents eight paintings created during Willmann's time in the capital, offering a glimpse into his vivid impressions of the city. The exhibition runs until Jan 17.

Christine Cayol, founder of Yishu 8, describes Willmann as an artist who transcends binary thinking to explore contemporary themes.

"He moves seamlessly between digital tools and traditional brushes. During his two-month residency in Beijing, he brought a sharp, inquisitive perspective, countless questions and a unique approach to painting," she says.

"Willmann's work embodies the essence of painting — a quiet, contemplative pause in a world hurtling toward virtualization," Cayol adds.

Willmann, born in 1995 and a graduate of the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, lives and works in Paris. In recent years, his solo exhibitions have been held in Paris, Marseille and Basel.

His practice, spanning painting and video, delves into the processes of editing and transformation. His work examines how people consume and share images and explores the emotional and collective meanings embedded within them.

The exhibition reflects a concept central to Willmann's creative process. He explains that he is drawn to the idea of packing as much information, memory or emotion as possible into a single square, compressing it into a cohesive whole.

"In the digital world, compression transforms data into something shorter and more efficient without losing its essence. It's like storing memories in a coded form for later. I like that idea," he says.