Third Annual Hamptons Fine Art Fair opens on July 14-17, 2022. Longtime show producer Rick Friedman, noted that “Hamptons Fine Art Fair is pleased to present a new exhibition of works by celebrated artist, Linjie Deng, titled Double Sided, due to popular demand after his Kiss Me, Kill Me exhibition nearly sold out last year.” What makes Linjie stand out from other artists is not only his gift of strong narrative and viewer interaction with his contemporary artworks, but also that he utilizes his expertise in traditional Chinese calligraphy. This exhibition, Double Sided, was inspired by Linjie’s unique personal development.
Linjie’s life and artwork are double sided too. When asked to describe himself, he frequently answers “Made in China, designed in NYC.” At the Hamptons Fine Art Fair, Linjie Deng’s Double Sided exhibition will be found at Booth #230.
Linjie spoke to Hamptons.com about his start in the art world, current projects and the Hamptons Fine Art Fair.
What drew you to the world of art? Did you always want to be an artist?
I am a visual artist based in New York City. Art’s influence on me began at a young age when my parents, who owned a fireworks business in China, would put me in an empty box as a method of keeping me safe. I would involuntarily bother my parents during business hours until they came up with an idea; they gave me a piece of paper and pad, telling me, “do whatever you want.” After an undisturbed day, my parents found me drawing inside the box. Not that long after, I began to draw in multiple places in the house. I would draw on the walls and on the bed. My mom got upset and sent me to calligraphy class. A skill that I would use to ease tension at home; using what I learned in class to patch up a part of a door broken during an argument with “Fu” the Asian character for good luck and fortune. Through this, I realized the power of art.
Soon after, I learned to create Chinese ink art and paintings. Then, I attended college in Beijing, where I honed my multimedia and design art skills, taking my craft down a more technological route. In August of 2015, I moved to New York, where I received an MFA in Design for Social Innovation from the School of Visual Arts. As I progressed, my medium changed. I began with paintbrushes, ink, and rice paper, then incorporated computer software and western culture later on. I think art saved my life. If I didn’t have art, I wouldn’t know how to express myself during that troubling time in my development.
Your thoughts on the Hamptons Fine Art Fair?
In the past few years, my art has been featured at several art fairs. Such as SCOPE at Art Basel Miami Beach, and the Hamptons Fine Art Fair.
As an artist, I have had the opportunity to speak with so many different people. Even though I have a different background than my audience, a lot of Hamptons art lovers collected my artwork last year. That’s why show producer Rick Friedman invited me back again this year. My studio is located at Midtown East, Manhattan. Everyone is so busy in the city. But guess what? I met a lot of my neighbors at the Hamptons Fine Arts Fair. We make jokes about it. We may go to same Whole Foods supermarkets to buy food, but we never bump into each other there. We have to come to the Hamptons to meet and share my artwork. So, I think the Hamptons Fine Arts Fair is a great stage for me professionally and personally.
Talk to us about your exhibition this year, what can we expect?
I was born in China and started studying Chinese calligraphy at the age of six. But my older sister thought calligraphy was outdated, not trendy, and opposed my mastering of the calligraphy techniques.
My sister still lives in our hometown, and makes a living by trading in Western luxury high-end handbags and exquisite watches for China’s growing middle class. This year, when she learned that Tiffany and Prada had invited me to do calligraphy collaboration with their products, she was shocked.
But I believe this is the time to build a stronger dialogue between the two cultures. While the world has come to rely on Chinese products, Western fashion goods have become hot commodities in China. A strong building block of cultural exchange. So, I wanted to build on that and created new paintings which combine Chinese traditional ceramic vase drawings with western modern fashion branding techniques. My works include Golden Tiger, China Blue.
What are you currently working on?
Last week, Museum of Arts and Design invited me to share my art stories and thoughts in the past 7 years of working and life experience in the USA on the Third Annual Museum Luminaries Panel. During my speech, I gave the audience a little sneak preview of my artwork for the upcoming exhibition Double Sided at Hamptons Fine Art Fair. I received so much positive feedback and fashion branding collaboration invitations. I met fashion designer, Alexander Hankin and DJ, Timo Weiland. We talked about the combination of painting, fashion, and music. We both want to express our feelings and love to people all over the world without words. No matter where you are from, what language you speak, you still can resonate with our love through our art. They will attend my show at the Hamptons Fine Art Fair so we will take it from there.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I’d like to invite everyone to come to my show Double Sided Hamptons Fine Art Fair and give me your honest feedback. I will be there for the entire show and hope to meet you. Hopefully you will be part of my continuing art journey.
Get your tickets at https://hamptonsfineartfair.com/
