孟东来
Donglai Meng
B.1994, Dalian, China
Painter, Multimedia artist
Currently living and working in the Netherlands
Donglai Meng
B.1994, Dalian, China
Painter, Multimedia artist
Currently living and working in the Netherlands
STATEMENT(CURRENT)
I am interested in the study of psychoanalysis, and the relationship between real experiences and the subconscious, especially the 'immersive daydreaming' phenomena.
My inspiration comes from different states of the human psyche, literature, drama, fairy tales, social issues, and subcultures. My works are mainly paintings, fiction novels, and installations. The narrative is essential in my works. I am obsessed with putting my creations in a fictional background, just like building a dream in the real world, making it a hint and reflection of fundamental problems and attempting to arouse the audience's attention to their inner experiences. And the presentation always appears in the series way. Through exploring, I hope to understand further the various psychological states of human beings and their significance and function for ourselves and society.
In my works, the bridge that connects different levels of impressions is "hairy legs": this bizarre yet familiar symbol can exist solely as a funny and exciting symbol, or it can start from the social perspective that women need to shave their leg hair, and the implied wildness and freedom of body hair, and be given multiple meanings in different contexts.
EDUCATION
2017-2019 MA Fine Art, Master Institute of Visual Cultures AKV St.Joost, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
2013-2017 BA Oil Painting, Academy of Fine Arts of Rome, Rome, Italy
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Solo
2024 The Moon Slides Over the Sea, Willem Twee Kunstruimte, Den Bosch, the Netherlands (upcoming)
2022 Oh! My Dog!, Cha x Art, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2022 The Baron In The Trees, Foundation B.A.D, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2021 A Porn Writer, OAZO AIR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 Make Lemonade, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2021 A Murder Case, Nieuw en Meer, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2020 Four States, Funspace Gallery OnlineRoom, Rome, Italy (Online)
2020 Midday Dreaming, WitteRook, Breda, the Netherlands
2019 Hairy Legs Shrine, Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
2017 Poetic Game, Palazzo Velli Expo, Rome, Italy
Group
2024 Abstracte Narratieve Vormen, Galerie Ecker, Breda, the Netherlands (upcoming)
2024 FLYFLYFLY, KennaXu Gallery, Shenzhen, China (ongoing)
2024 ‘2024’, Moosey Gallery, London, the UK (ongoing)
2023 Koortsdroom (Fever Dream), FRANS HALS Museum, Haarlem, the Netherlands (ongoing)
2023 A piece of angel cake, What Art Can Do project space, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2023 DIONYSUS, DAKE Art Museum, Chengdu, China
2023 One day I’ll fly away, Galerie SANAA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2023 Atari, No Man’s Art Gallery, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2023 Venti Sussurranti, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2023 Spring Musings & Muddy Feet, Galerie SANAA, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2023 Launch show of Curated By, Huis Vasari, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Draw the Line Ⅱ- The Female Gaze, Wobby.club, Kunstpodium T, Tilburg, the Netherlands
2022 Pets and Animals, Kollection Kitsch, WORM, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Abitudine Artistica Ideologia Eccellente, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2022 In a pig’s whisper, De Vishal, Haarlem, the Netherlands
2022 The Shadow Of The Void, AAIE Center, Rome, Italy
2022 Crisis Kunst, Niffo Galerie, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Prospects 10th, by Mondriaan Fonds, Art Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 We are all guests#8, Foundation B.A.D, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2022 Biennale di Todi, Tower Gallery by AAIE Center , Todi, Italy
2021 Needles in the hay, The curators room, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 With permission from the officer, PuntWG, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 #artistsupportpledge, De Balie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2019 Graduation Exhibition - POSTCOMPOST, Master Institute of Visual Cultures AKV St.Joost, Den Bosch, the Netherlands
2019 Dream Power, Theater Vascello, Rome, Italy
2019 Percorso d'Arte a Castiglione III edizione, Palombara Sabina, Italy
2018 Transition, Eye Research Lab, Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2018 What Do We Dance For? Gallery Nectar, Tbilisi, Georgia
2017 TRACCE 2017, San Domenico, Italy
ARTIST RESIDENCY
2022 Foundation B.A.D, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
2021 OAZO AIR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 Nieuw en Meer AIR, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2020 WitteRook, Breda, the Netherlands
2019 Studio Kura, Fukuoka, Japan
AWARDS/GRANTS
2023 Artists Start 2023-24, Mondriaan Fonds
2021 Artist Project grants, Mondriaan Fonds
2020 Stipendium Emerging Artists 2020-21, Mondriaan Fonds
ART FAIR/ AUCTION/ EVENT
2024 Affordable Art Fair, Hong Kong (with AAIE Center) (upcoming)
2023 Big Art, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2023 Springboard Art Fair, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2022 Dead Darlings, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2022 THIS Art Fair, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 THIS Art Fair, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2021 CONTEMPORARY VENICE 2020 - ITSLIQUID International Art Fair, Venice, Italy
ARTIST TALK/PRESENTATION
2019 Research Presentation, V2_, Lab for the Unstable Media, Rotterdam, Netherlands
WORKSHOP
2020 kidz-residency for Breda Cultuurnacht at Witte Rook, Breda
2019 organizer of the workshop “Brown shoes don’t make it” at St.Joost master institute, Den Bosch (with Hossein Daneshpajooh, Monique van de Ven, Simon Oosterhuis)
2018 organizer of the workshop “Incense in the Room” at St.Joost master institute, Den Bosch (with Peng Zhang)