Mao Jia

1989 Born in Qingdao, Shandong province

2012 Graduated from the School of Chinese Painting, Central Academy of Fine Arts with bachelor’s degree

GROUP EXHIBITION

2020

10^th Anniversary Exhibition of Art Nova 100, Guardian Art Center, Beijing, China

2020 Guan Shanyue Art Museum Exhibition of Youth Gongbi Paintings, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen, China

The 3^rd Powerlong Art Award "Yaju" New Gongbi Painting Award Selection Exhibition, Powerlong Museum, Shanghai, China

The 7^th Star Plan: Youth Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tree Art Museum, Beijing, China

2019  

Youth & Mind: 2019 Guan Shanyue Art Museum Exhibition of Youth Gongbi Paintings, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Shenzhen, China

Exhibition of National Outstanding Young Art Talents in 2019, Yan Huang Art Museum, Beijing, China

The 18^th New Art Exhibition by Emerging Artists of Beijing Artists Association, Capital Library of China, Beijing, China

"Growing up with Our Motherland" Beijing Youth & Teenager Artworks Exhibition, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China

"Because: Painting" Painting Invitational Exhibition, Xiangshan Art Commune, Hangzhou, China

How Far is No.2 Ganjiang West Road: The 5^th Art Suzhou International Exchange Exhibition, Guoyunlou, Suzhou, China

2018  

FFA Annual Exhibition "Awareness & Consciousness", FFA Contemporary Art Center, Nanjing, China

Beijing Youth Art Biennial, The China Millennium Monument, Beijing, China

Not Created by Narration: Excellent Artworks of the 1^st Powerlong Art Award, Powerlong Museum, Shanghai, China

In and Out of the Zone: Contemporary Artist of the 3^rd Poly "Academy Star", Yiwu International Exhibition Center, Yiwu, China

2017  

Chinese Ink Narrates China: Art Exhibition of the 20^th Anniversary of Hong Kong's Return to Motherland, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, Hong Kong, China

2016  

Physics and Metaphysic: Contemporary Ink Invitational Exhibition, 798 Enjoy Art Museum, Beijing, China

Signs of Deferral: China New Ink Academy Invitational Exhibition, Zhongshan Expo Center, Zhongshan, China

2015  

2015 Art Critic Nomination Exhibition, Chinese Businessman Museum, Beijing, China

2013  

When We Were Young Classmates: The 1^st China Youth New Gongbi Exhibition, Huantie Times Art Gallery, Beijing, China

2012  

Academy & Strength: The First National Nomination Exhibition of New Works of Art Colleges and Universities, Xiamen Art Museum, Xiamen, China

A Journey of Thousands of Miles: Excellent Works Exhibition of Class 2012 Graduates of Central Academy of Fine Arts, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China

"I've Had Nobody Else to Paint but Myself"-- the Solitude of Mao Jia's 2020 ‘Self-Portrait’

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, I started to read The Picture of Dorian Gray, a novel by Oscar Wilde on a simple, good-looking young man. There is a part when a friend paints Gray a portrait, which is the first time the sense of his own beauty comes on the young man like a revelation. He can't help but said, "How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young...If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that -- for that -- I would give away everything! Yes, there is nothing in the world I would not give! I would give my soul for that!" Unexpectedly, it becomes a prophecy. Through many years, he stays as young-looking as ever, his face as pure as ever even after so many crimes have been committed, while the portrait grows wicked and hideous. Day by day, the mind and soul of Gray is increasingly corrupted. Eventually, when his sin can no longer be redeemed and the portrait becomes too hideous to behold, he stabs the painting, only to find that the knife stabs at Dorian himself. When Gray lays on the ground as the years catch up on him, haggard and detestable, the portrait restores to be as youthful as when it was first created. Over the years, I have enjoyed the idea of painting a self-portrait, but somehow it had always failed me. Perhaps in my view, "I" myself might not deserve the depiction. However, after reading this story, I became obsessed with the magical relation between one's portrait and soul. As I was in a pandemic lock-down, I've had nobody else to paint but myself. Taking this opportunity, I started to review myself and some deep secrets of mine. Looking into the mirror, I saw a solid high-rise standing in darkness and tranquility like a monument. And I tried to paint that down. The final product, as you can see in the picture, is a structure full of cavities. If this portrait is relatable to the portrait of Dorian Gray, it is also approaching a destined demise when it can no longer sustain everything for me. But "I" will remain perfect as ever.