Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art Explores History of Chinese Photography with Captivating New Exhibition

LAS VEGAS (May 9, 2024) – Guests are invited to embark on a journey through the lens of history as Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) presents From Grain to Pixel: Contemporary Chinese Photography through October 6, 2024. Showcasing 37 works by 14 visionary Chinese artists created between 1993 and 2006, the exhibition offers a compelling glimpse into a pivotal period of cultural and technological transformation in China.

An immersive gateway intertwining nature and culture welcomes visitors to the gallery, inviting them to participate in an interactive and reflective moment upon their arrival. Paper lanterns fleck a ceiling filled with greenery, spilling over gentle, gradient blue walls adorned with trailing vines and elegant gold chains. A light box illuminating a distant landscape serves as a picturesque backdrop within the lush setting. Guests are encouraged to personalize and tie their own wishing tag to the golden chains, leaving behind aspirations for the future inspired by their visit.

From Grain to Pixel delves into the evolution of Chinese photography as an art form, highlighting a vibrant era of creative exploration and experimentation by conceptual artists in China. From intimate black and white photographs to expansive color panoramas, the selected artworks reveal a rich tapestry of Chinese life and the dynamic growth of an artistic avant-garde. The exhibition features a vast array of themes, such as the documentation of ephemeral moments of artistic performance, exemplified in the works of RongRong and Cang Xin; the use of the body as a canvas, as depicted in the works of Huang Yan, Zhang Huan and Qiu Zhijie; the staging of vividly colorful scenes and reinterpretations of art history through the lens of societal representation, as presented by Ciu Xuiwen, Hong Lei, Tong Dazhuang and Wang Qingsong; and the visual language of transformation in work that grapples with a rapidly changing reality, as shown in the work of Xing Danwen, Hai Bo, Weng Fen and Zhang Peilli.

“From Grain to Pixel illustrates an exciting transition in the use of photography for self-expression in China. For these artists, photography served as a powerful media to reckon with their placement within a very charged and pivotal moment in history,” said Demecina Beehn, MGM Resorts Director of Art & Culture. “Through this exhibition, we celebrate these preeminent conceptual artists of China and their trailblazing work in photography.”

In the wake of China’s Cultural Revolution ending in 1976, new avenues of global exchange heralded in an era of cultural and economic renaissance. Emerging artists eagerly embraced the immediacy of photography, reveling in newfound freedoms to capture the essence of a dynamically evolving society. Spanning the technological innovations of photography, from 35mm and large format film to the rise of digital processes, the exhibition casts a spotlight on key artists who chronicled the evolution of their lives and surroundings with sublime ingenuity.

The exhibition reflects MGM Resorts’ commitment to displaying works by underrepresented artists. The full list of artists featured in the collection includes Cang Xin, Cui Xiuwen, Hai Bo, Hong Hao, Hong Lei, Huang Yan, Qiu Zhijie, RongRong, Tong Dazhuang, Wang Qingsong, Weng Fen, Xing Danwen, Zhang Huan and Zhang Peili.

From Grain to Pixel is on display daily at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art from May 10 through October 6, open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., daily. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing time. Complimentary with admission, daily docent-led tours are held at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $18 for adults; $15 for Nevada residents, seniors 65 and older, students, teachers and military with a valid ID. Children five and younger are free.

For additional information, call (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777 or visit bellagio.com/bgfa.