Zheng Chongbin’s Dialogue With the Golden State

In the heart of California's expansive geography, artist Zheng Chongbin has been weaving a tapestry of life and ecologies through his captivating works. His latest exhibition at LACMA, "Zheng Chongbin: Golden State," is an immersive experience that invites viewers to explore the intricate relationships between nature, art, and the human condition.

Chongbin's artistic journey began in Shanghai during China's Cultural Revolution, where he was trained in classical Chinese art forms. However, it was not until the Open Door Policy in 1978 that Western ideas and materials began to influence his work, incorporating styles like Abstract Expressionism, German Expressionism, and Light and Space movements.

In "Golden State," Chongbin pays homage to California's unique geography, juxtaposing elements of sunlight, trees, rain fog, fire scars, and earthquake fault lines. His use of shrimp paper, a light material made from sandalwood bark, imbues the work with an organic quality that allows the paint to crack and fissure as new layers are applied.

The artist's fascination with nature is evident in his observation: "It feels like ecologies... everything that goes through is my skin." His paintings are not mere representations but rather a testament to the interconnectedness of all living things. Chongbin's style, characterized by layered swaths of ink and paint, creates topographic elements that evoke natural formations from mountain peaks to blood capillaries.

The artist's light-and-space installations, such as "Mesh" (2018) and "Chimeric Landscape" (2015), further underscore this concept. By filtering natural, medical, and abstract imagery through refracted light, Chongbin creates an immersive environment that dissolves boundaries between the physical and metaphysical.

In "Chimeric Landscape," a sand dollar awash on the shore becomes the muse for an installation that weaves short clips of water, ink, cell functions, and other ephemera into Euclidean geometries. This work deconstructs spatial differentiation, highlighting the little breaths of life in inanimate objects.

At LACMA, "Zheng Chongbin: Golden State" is an exhibition that defies traditional notions of art and space. It invites viewers to collaborate with both material and mind, ensuring that what lies above reflects below. As Chongbin says, "The structure of Chimeric Landscape is obviously a non-linear narrative... The one visual dominance that we encounter is the ink flow."

Through his works, Zheng Chongbin reminds us that art is not separate from nature but rather an extension of it. His solo exhibition at LACMA offers a poignant reminder of the intricate relationships between life, ecologies, and human existence.

"Zheng Chongbin: Golden State" is on view at LACMA through January 4, 2026.

I'm so emotional about this art exhibition ! I mean, Zheng Chongbin's use of shrimp paper is genius, like a natural disaster that destroys the painting and makes it beautiful again . And his observation about ecologies being everything that goes through him... chill, dude . It's like he's tapping into this deep connection with nature and we're just seeing glimpses of it on canvas. The way he incorporates light and space is mind-blowing, it's like stepping into a dream world . I need to see this exhibition ASAP, it sounds so immersive!

man... i just got so moved by this artist's work, you know? it's like he's tryin' to tell us that we're all connected, like our lives are intertwined with the earth and each other his use of light and space is so mind-blowing, it feels like you're right there with him, feelin' all the emotions and textures... i mean, who needs words when art can just speak straight to your soul? it's like he's showin' us that even in the darkest times, there's still beauty and life to be found... and that's somethin' we all need right now

I'm low-key obsessed with Zheng Chongbin's new exhibit . Like, his use of shrimp paper is genius! It adds this organic vibe to the paintings that makes me feel like I'm walking into a forest or something . His art is all about connection and balance - it's not just pretty to look at, but also makes you think about how our lives are linked with nature and each other .

I love how he blends natural elements with abstract stuff to create these surreal landscapes . And those light-and-space installations? Mind-blowing ! It's like his art is saying, "Hey, let's dissolve the lines between reality and dreams" .

For me, the coolest thing about this exhibit is how it invites you to collaborate with both your physical and mental spaces . Like, Chongbin says that the structure of one of these works is a non-linear narrative... I think that's so true - art shouldn't just be something we look at, but also something we feel inside .

Anyway, if you haven't checked out "Zheng Chongbin: Golden State" yet, you need to ! It's like a journey through the self and nature all at once... I'm getting all artsy just thinking about it .

omg have you seen this exhibition at LACMA its literally mind blown i mean zheng chongbin's use of shrimp paper and layering his work is so unique and organic it feels like he's tap into the natural world anyway i think what i love most about his art is how it makes you feel connected to everything around u, it's like ur skin is in the painting lol anyway if u haven't seen this exhibition yet u should def check it out its a real game changer

idk why ppl r all about this "art is subjective" vibe... zheng chongbin's work feels like a total snooze fest to me i mean, all those layers of ink and paint just seem like a bunch of fancy schmancy decoration . and don't even get me started on the whole "ecologies" thing... it's just nature, dude . not some deep profound message or whatever. plus, have u seen his installations? they're literally just sand dollars in water how original. i'm all for pushing boundaries and whatnot, but this guy feels like he's just rehashing the same old ideas over and over again

omg this art dude zheng chongbin is straight fire his use of shrimp paper sounds hella unique & the way he blends light and space with abstract expressionism is giving me life i love how he's not just painting nature but literally making you feel like you're part of it the fact that his art is all about ecologies and human connection is so sick

I just saw this article about artist Zheng Chongbin's latest exhibition "Golden State" and I'm like totally blown away ! His use of shrimp paper is genius and the way he weaves nature into his art is so beautiful... it feels like you're walking through a forest in there . And that line about ecologies being like his skin? Mind blown . It's like, yeah, art can totally be an extension of life, not just some separate thing we look at and appreciate. Can't wait to see this exhibit for myself!

just saw this exhibit at lacma and it's giving me LIFE Zheng chongbin's use of materials is insane, like who knew shrimp paper existed? the way he weaves light and shadow into his paintings is seriously mind-bending... i'm totally on team zheng right now, love how he blurs lines between nature and art the way he talks about ecologies and interconnectedness is like, so deep

this exhibit sounds super immersive i wish i could see it in person what's with this shrimp paper stuff does he get a commission from the manufacturer or something? is it eco-friendly too? also, his art seems to be inspired by nature but are there any personal experiences that sparked this connection?

I'm so hyped about this new exhibit at LACMA! Zheng Chongbin's work is like a breath of fresh air, you know? He's not just painting pretty pictures, he's trying to connect us with the world around us . His use of shrimp paper and light installations takes art to a whole new level . I love how he blends nature, art, and science to create this immersive experience that makes you feel like you're part of something bigger than yourself . And can we talk about his process? The way he layers paint and ink to create these topographic elements is like magic . It's no wonder people are going crazy for his show!

I don't get why people are hyped about this exhibition . I mean, it's just a bunch of old paintings with some weird materials that make them crack and fissure like they're gonna fall apart. And don't even get me started on the whole "it's an immersive experience" thing... sounds like just an excuse for the artist to be all up in your grill . I've seen more impressive stuff at a kindergarten art class . And what's with all this fuss about the connections between nature and art? Can't we just appreciate some sick beats or a dope video game instead?

I love how Zheng Chongbin's art is all about blurring the lines between nature and humanity. His use of organic materials like shrimp paper is so cool, it's like he's tapping into the earth itself. And that quote where he says "everything that goes through is my skin" gives me chills - it's like he's literally merging with the natural world. The way his art installations play with light and space is mind-blowing too . It's like you're transported to another dimension where nature and art are one and the same. I think what really gets me, though, is how this exhibition feels so timely - we need more people like Zheng Chongbin who are pushing the boundaries of what art can be. Can't wait to check it out at LACMA!

omg u guys have to check out this new exhibit at LACMA its sooo good!! Zheng Chongbin's art is literally a reflection of our world & i love how he weaves nature into his paintings its like he's merging the physical & metaphysical the use of shrimp paper is genius too - its like he's taking something organic & making it almost... otherworldly? and can we talk about how this exhibit challenges traditional notions of art & space?? its not just a pretty view, its an experience that makes u think about the world in a different way i'm def adding "Golden State" to my bucket list ASAP - has anyone been there yet??