Can a classical Western approach gel with a visceral, Asian calligraphic style? This groundbreaking exhibition presents such a collaboration on a cosmic scale: 18 large-scale acrylic/gouache paintings with Chinese calligraphy on archival black paper, a stark reminder of the vast darkness and expanse of outer space.
The collaboration began from a dinner party in Flushing, NY, hosted by poet Huang Xiang. Artist Randall DiGiuseppe’s aunt, a huge admirer of his poetry, was the guest of honor. Despite the language barrier, Randall and Huang immediately hit it off. Huang shared his stunning calligraphic scrolls, while Randall shared his astronomical sketchbook. The following week, they met on a crystal-clear night at Robert Moses State Park, where Randall set up his reflector telescope. Huang peered through the eyepiece repeating the same word all night: “Wow!” Huang Xiang was often imprisoned in China for his advocacy of human rights, thus being denied access to the night sky for many years. On this night, he was free to immerse in all its immense beauty and awe.
“Nocturnes” comprises eighteen large-scale paintings in gouache, acrylic and Chinese ink. These cosmic fantasias were inspired by their subsequent stargazing sessions between 2014-15. Celestial objects painted by Randall on black paper punctuated with Huang Xiang’s calligraphy. The title is in honor of John Field, the Irish composer attributed to creating the nocturne, of which he composed eighteen for piano.
Join us for this celestial collaboration of Western painting and Eastern poetry. The Opening Reception will be held on Friday night, October 10th also known as “Double Ten Day”, the National Day of the Republic of China. The evening’s celebration starts at 5:30PM and will include an art talk by Randall and poetry readings by Huang.
Artists’ Bios
Huang Xiang (b.1941) rose to prominence as a poet in Mainland China following the Cultural Revolution. He is internationally recognized as one of China’s greatest contemporary poets. His writings and calligraphy earned him worldwide acclaim and Nobel Prize nominations. They also earned him detractors in the government, who deemed him an enemy of the State and imprisoned him for two decades. Since his exile from China in 1997, Huang Xiang writes and resides in Flushing, NY with his wife, Ling.
Randall DiGiuseppe (b. 1969) is an American artist and art historian whose art training began at the High School of Art & Design and the Art Students League in New York City. There he studied under masters Irwin Greenberg, Jack Faragasso and Ronald Sherr. He earned his BA in Art History at Buffalo State College in 2001 and MFA at the New York Academy of Art in 2012. His professional art career spans over four decades, ranging from mechanical drafting, illustration, 3D digital animation, projection mapping and art lecturer. Today he focuses on his studio art and teaching classical art methods at the Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James, NY. Randall is also an amateur astronomer and gives tours of the night sky at the Custer Observatory in Southold, NY.
For more information go to https://theatelieratflowerfield.org/exhibitions or call 631-250-9009.
