The“Details (Mountains)”series draws from the heads of ancient figurative sculptures, where XU ZHEN® cleverly magnifies and places the sculpture’s beard part inverted in the space. The missing parts of the artwork ignite endless imaginations among the audience about what it might be, while the inverted beard appears like an abstract sculpture from a distance, yet possesses the vitality of organic matter. However, upon closer inspection, viewers will discover elements of ancient Greek sculptures inverted. Conventional viewing experiences and inherent cognitions are disrupted by this visually contradictory artwork. XU ZHEN® not only creates new experiences but also challenges the audience’s perception.

Xenocrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BCE. He was a student of Plato and became the head of the Academy after Plato’s death. Xenocrates was renowned for his metaphysical and mathematical theories. He believed in the existence of a transcendent world of forms and emphasized the importance of ethics and self-control in achieving a good life. His philosophical ideas had an impact on the development of Neoplatonism and had a lasting influence on later philosophers.