3812 Gallery presents Poetic Abstraction, a solo exhibition by Shanghai-based artist Li Lei on view from 14th November 2019 to 18th January 2020, along with a series of academic forums and talks in collaboration with Royal Drawing School and Unicorn Publishing.

In his poetic abstraction, Li Lei conveys his inner feelings through abstract images; in his paintings, no distinct forms can be identified. His brushstrokes lay out landscapes layer by layer, and, through the building of colour, he allows colour and brush reciprocity to reach a kind of tacit understanding, with no trace of conflict between them.

Li Lei’s diptych series Calm Contemplation is new to the market and will be shown for the first time in the UK. The dualistic presentation of two paintings in a diptych conveys multi-layered meanings: the juxtaposition between the expressionistic composition with boldly contrasted colours and the expanse of meditative colour fields with subtle gradation creates tension between the emotional and the rational, and the material and the spiritual.

Calvin Hui, Co-founder and Artistic Director of 3812 Gallery states, “We are thrilled to present Li Lei in our parallel exhibitions in our galleries in London and Hong Kong simultaneously. Our aim is to introduce Eastern aesthetic and cultural understanding to the global audience through contemporary art, and, through our annual art programme. We are committed to fostering a cultural dialogue between the East and West. As an important addition to the roster of artists of 3812 Gallery, Li Lei will feature his masterpieces which reflect the core value of 3812 Gallery – ‘Eastern Origin with Contemporary Expression’ – in his London and Hong Kong exhibitions.”