​Osage Gallery is pleased to present a solo showcase featuring Miao Xiaochun. Miao bridges the past and current both in terms of the media he uses and in subject matter. Miao radically marries the use of traditional Chinese Ink, as well as traditional painting with techniques and images rendered and inspired by his animations, in particular the 3D software and ‘wireframes’ with which animators build their virtual environments. While the compositions of Miao’s work frequently reference classical paintings such as those by Hieronymous Bosch, Michelangelo and Caravaggio that depict views on the world and universe as influenced by the western Christian church, these images take on a wholly different meaning in the contemporary context. In the Last Judgment in Cyberspace series, for example, Miao questions the nature of judgement, stating, “Are my views towards myself, my nation and my national religion and culture overly compassionate or overly critical? Are my views and judgements of other people, other nations and other religions and cultures too severe or too respectful?” The Last Judgement in Cyberspace series is the first of the artist’s works exclusively using 3D software, and fully explores the possibilities offered by animation to create multiple perspectives – as a result, the judged and judgers are conflated, and our perspectives are fluid. Moving seemingly against the current, taking from animation to bring to Chinese Ink, Miao pushes the boundaries and applications of both disciplines. Created in 2006, the work is a pioneering piece in China. In Microcosm, Miao’s re-interpretation of Bosch’s triptych, the Garden of Earthly Delights, we are similarly allowed to slip with penetrative sightlines from heaven, to earth, to hell, from past to current to future. In The Dinner, Miao pushes the possibilities of what is possible with acrylic painting. Miao captures the dynamism in the line qualities as in animation, and manifests these movements in the still painting. Miao Xiaochun holds fast in his own spiritual dominance. Facing the biggest "Mirage" that is contemporary Chinese society, Miao maintains in attitude and standpoint the drive to continually raise questions, and to see beyond what are presented as solid, elaborate and perfect.