SET SAIL AGAIN exhibition artist | ZHANG LINSONG
Tree deities are objects of worship in some beliefs, often hosted by ancient towering trees. The faith in tree deities originates from ancient people’s natural beliefs, holding that all things have spirits, and everything around them, from mountains and stones to grass and trees, is imbued with life. Trees are also personified in folk stories from many other countries, attributed with personality traits; they can speak, scare people, and even make prophecies. Millennia-old trees are frequently endowed with divine qualities by people who anthropomorphize them, using trees as a medium to convey messages. This notion inspires contemplation on what attributes one can ascribe to trees.
Zhang Linsong, born in 1996 (she/her), is a multimedia artist and designer currently living in Shanghai and Shenyang. Her work primarily focuses on painting, though it sometimes extends into sculpture, fashion, and installations. Nature is the main source of inspiration and subject matter for Zhang Linsong’s creations. She is adept at harnessing serendipity; during the creative process, unexpected elements quietly intercede, allowing her to craft fantastical narratives that explore the unknown and the existential, the interplay between the artificial and the natural, identity and environment, and most importantly, the mysteries of life. Painting is her way of understanding the world, materializing her psychological space onto the canvas. She does not aim to convey any specific interpretations or conclusions through her work but rather seeks to liberate herself by creating and listening to her inner voice. She studied Film at the California Institute of the Arts and graduated from the Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
