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Phantasmal Beings
duo exhibition
28.03.2025-01.06.2025
Zhiartspace
115-116,A4,OCT Loft North
Nanshan district
Shenzhen
China 幻生万象
双个展
2025.03.28-2025.06.01
芷美空间
深圳市南山区
华侨城创意园 
北区A栋115-116 At the intersection of nature and the human psyche lies a realm that transcends reality—a world where life takes on infinite forms, both as a reflection of the tangible and as an echo of the subconscious. Phantasmal Beings brings together two female artists whose unique visual languages explore the interplay between the natural world and psychological portraiture. Through the lens of figurative yet fantastical storytelling, they construct a dialogue that bridges reality and imagination, the external and internal.

This exhibition not only explores the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature but also examines the psychological tension within individual identity. It further delves into archetypal narratives hidden beneath the surface of the self. As the creatures and figures in these paintings gaze upon the viewer, they become both the observed and the observer. This direct confrontation transforms the act of “seeing” into an experience charged with intensity—extending from an ode to nature into a deeper exploration of the human condition.

The artist Pei Ke employs tempera painting to depict flora and fauna, dissolving the boundaries between species and fostering an ecosystem where all beings coexist and flourish. Her works are not merely representations of nature; they reconstruct the very fabric of life itself. Birds, beasts, trees, and stones share the same canvas, where human presence is not privileged but woven into an interconnected, boundless world.

Conversely, the artist Zhang Nan delves into human psychology, transforming faces and gestures to expose the inner tensions of the self. Through her manipulation of form and ambiguous identities, she moves beyond the specificity of individual experience, tapping into a universal, archetypal resonance. Her portraits stare back at the viewer—not only asserting their own existence but also challenging the very act of observation.

One artist turns outward, toward the natural world, while the other peers inward, into the depths of the psyche. Their works serve as two mirrors: one reflecting the illusions of the world, the other revealing the essence of the self. When placed within the same exhibition space, reality and dream, nature and the mind, observation and being observed intersect—inviting the audience into a profound visual and psychological experience.


Curator DanDan Zhang
09.02.2025







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