Leo Gallery Shanghai | Drops from the Rainbow: Chen Kai & Nicole Phungrasamee Fein

In Shanghai, the phenomenon of sunshowers—a burst of rain under clear skies—is a familiar one, often followed by rainbows stretching across the sky. The Song Dynasty scholar Shen Kuo documented this in his Dream Pool Essays (梦溪笔谈), noting, "A rainbow is the shadow of sunlight in the rain. It appears when the sun is shining through." The exhibition title "Drops from the Rainbow" hints at how vibrant colors are delicately scattered across the artists' canvases, resembling raindrops. Through the distinct approaches of Chen Kai and Nicole Phungrasamee Fein, viewers are invited to witness how each artist engages in a dialogue with their works through diverse materials and methods.

 

Chen's latest works, dominated by yellow hues, evoke sunlight; while inspired by natural landscapes, he does not aim to replicate nature. He hopes each piece resembles a sheet of paper exposed to the elements, gradually developing its unique character over time. Each work thus embodies its individuality, whether as a play of sunlight scattered through forest canopies or as layers of golden ripples extending outward. Hermann Hesse's poetry, embodying the desire to be "soaked in sunlight without longing for anything else," aptly resonates with a generation inundated with information. Chen, therefore, avoids conveying any specific message, instead constructing a new visual language that directly engages the viewer. In his experiments, layering colors, the viewer's experience becomes part of the artwork, with shifting light and prolonged observation naturally blending colors before their eyes. Chen's intention is not representational or emotive like abstract expressionism; rather, he invites the viewer to explore an ever-evolving field of color, fostering a subtle, immersive engagement.

 

Born in 1974, Nicole Phungrasamee Fein studied social psychology and art at Tufts University, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and Mills College in Oakland. Three decades ago, while still a student in Boston, she grappled with large oil paintings. It was during this time that she spent a summer at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou. Immersed in traditional Chinese ink techniques—flowers and birds, landscapes, and calligraphy—she found a more fluid and comfortable way to create, one that felt truer to her nature. This experience led her to adopt watercolor on paper as a life long medium. In Drops from the Rainbow, the artist presents explorations from 2020 to 2024, confining herself to square or circular formats. Through these strict self-imposed limitations, she achieves a diverse range of effects, such as delicate dots of paint and evenly distributed lines, making it difficult to discern the process behind each artwork. The layers of primary colors revealed at the edges showcase the elements that structure the composition. Between the sprayed, dispersed, and overlapping colors, one can imagine how these deeply personal processes unfold beneath the surface's tranquility.