New impressions of Beijing

During his two-month residency in Beijing in late autumn and early winter, French artist Gaspar Willmann found inspiration in the city's quiet details — mingling hues of fallen leaves and the charm of the hutong (alleyways).

These moments became the foundation of success for Willmann, a 2023 Yishu 8 French Young Artist Award winner.

On Dec 7, his solo exhibition Compression was unveiled at Yishu 8, an art platform providing residencies for artists from France and China. The venue is located inside the historical building of the former Sino-French University in Beijing.

The show presents eight paintings created during Willmann's time in the capital, offering a glimpse into his vivid impressions of the city. The exhibition runs until Jan 17.

Christine Cayol, founder of Yishu 8, describes Willmann as an artist who transcends binary thinking to explore contemporary themes.

"He moves seamlessly between digital tools and traditional brushes. During his two-month residency in Beijing, he brought a sharp, inquisitive perspective, countless questions and a unique approach to painting," she says.

"Willmann's work embodies the essence of painting — a quiet, contemplative pause in a world hurtling toward virtualization," Cayol adds.

Willmann, born in 1995 and a graduate of the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, lives and works in Paris. In recent years, his solo exhibitions have been held in Paris, Marseille and Basel.

His practice, spanning painting and video, delves into the processes of editing and transformation. His work examines how people consume and share images and explores the emotional and collective meanings embedded within them.

The exhibition reflects a concept central to Willmann's creative process. He explains that he is drawn to the idea of packing as much information, memory or emotion as possible into a single square, compressing it into a cohesive whole.

"In the digital world, compression transforms data into something shorter and more efficient without losing its essence. It's like storing memories in a coded form for later. I like that idea," he says.

Willmann describes himself as something of an image collector.

"There are two types of images I'm drawn to: those from search engines, often the top results, which evoke a sense of deja vu and carry collective meaning," he explains. "And then there are images from my daily life, captured on my smartphone — more intimate, serving as witnesses to fleeting memories or moments."

His artistic process begins with images layered in Photoshop, where one obscures the next in a series of overlapping compositions. This approach creates a visual complexity that makes the original sources nearly impossible to discern.

Once the digital composition is printed onto canvas, Willmann transitions to traditional techniques, using a paintbrush to reinterpret the imagery. For him, painting is a way to pause, reflect and reconnect with the images, breathing new life into them. Amid the dynamic, chaotic brushstrokes, new landscapes emerge.

His residency in Beijing became a rich source of inspiration, captured using this same method.

"I particularly liked this season in Beijing, especially for the quantity of leaves scattered in shades of green and yellow. It sometimes looked like an infinity of pixels that would compose foliage," he says.

The eight works on display, whether horizontal or vertical, share a consistent size — a deliberate choice by Willmann. He explains that the dimensions mirror the windows in his Paris studio.

"The history of windows is fascinating, as it weaves through both the evolution of art and the advancement of technology," he notes.

Nicolas Pillerel, minister counselor for culture, education and scientific affairs at the French embassy in China, highlighted the significance of the exhibition, describing it as a key cultural event in Beijing commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. He also thanked the gallery and its founder "for their unwavering dedication over the past decade, fostering communication and creation among young artists from both countries", he says.