Huiqin Wang & Vladimir Leben Between Sky and Earth

Huiqin Wang & Vladimir Leben
Med nebom in zemljo / Between Sky and Earth
14 February – 8 March 2017
artKIT, Glavni trg 14, Maribor, Slovenia

Tuesday, 14 February 2017 at 6 p. m. – exhibition opening
Wednesday, 15 February at 10 a. m. – breakfast with artists

“The artists set out on a painting journey to the world of animals, taking the liberty of approaching art in a very playful manner. The animal world may not be as complex as the human, but this does not mean it is less packed with meaning. The two painters, a woman and a man, have put to intelligent use the ability of art to widen our horizons in a variety of ways, sometimes even by reminding us that the world needs to open up to optimism, playfulness, mutual kindness, and happiness.” (Nadja Zgonik)

About the exhibition

Huiqin Wang grew up in China. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts of the University of Nanjing she moved to Slovenia, where she continued with specialized study at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana (starting in 1986). She has obtained more experience at the Minerva Art Academy in Gröningen, the Netherlands (1991). Her works reflect the eastern-western experience, which she expresses by means of different techniques and manifestations of contemporary art, from installations, performances, photography, to painting and book illustrations. Her works, which have received numerous awards, are exhibited often in solo or group exhibitions in China, Slovenia, and elsewhere across Europe.

Vladimir Leben, born 1 January 1971 in Celje, grew up in Sevnica. In Ljubljana he attended the Secondary School for Design and Photography, and later the Academy of Fine Arts and Design. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions home and abroad, among his most visible projects is Galapagos – part of the project is included in the permanent collection of the Maribor Art Gallery. He is one of the co-founders of the Museum of Too Modern Art. Apart from painting, his interests include animation and illustration. He is the winner of the 1st prize for animation at the 10th Slovenian Film Festival in Portorose in 2007, and a receiver of the Hinko Smrekar Recognition Award at the 10th Slovenian Biennial of Illustration in 2012. He lives and works in Ljubljana.