2013,Dove Solo exhibition"Dove's cross"
2013年个展"十字朵夫"
In 2013, Chinese contemporary artist Dove (formerly known as Duofu) held a significant solo exhibition titled “Cross”, marking a critical moment in his spiritual and artistic journey. Deeply rooted in Christian faith, the exhibition centered around the symbol of the cross, which Dove has developed into a unique, abstract visual language through decades of artistic exploration. More than a religious emblem, the cross becomes in his work a medium of contemplation, order, time, and spiritual offering.
This exhibition featured two of Dove’s most important series:
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“Lunar Calendar December”
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“Genesis”
Together, these bodies of work form a meditation on time, faith, creation, and transcendence—each cross not just a graphic element, but a spiritual gesture.
Artist's Vision
For Dove, art is not entertainment or decoration—it is a sacrificial act. He regards painting as prayer, and every cross as a trace of presence. His works are devoid of narrative drama or figurative illusion; instead, they invite viewers into a space of stillness and spiritual resonance.
“My works are not meant to tell a story, but to hold a space for worship, silence, and spiritual perception,” Dove once wrote.
“The cross is not only Christ’s—it is the intersection where eternity meets time, where heaven touches the earth.”
The Lilac Cross
One of Dove’s most distinctive contributions to Chinese contemporary art is his development of the “Lilac Cross”—a stylized, abstract cross that recurs throughout his work. The form is minimal, modular, and symmetrical, often appearing as both structure and spirit within the composition. For Dove, the cross is not only a symbol of faith, but also a method of spiritual alignment—a compass for the soul, a visual scripture.
This form bridges cultures:
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From Western theology and sacred iconography
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To Eastern aesthetics, with its emphasis on balance, emptiness, and rhythm
The Lilac Cross thus becomes a universal symbol of hope, order, humility, and light.
Legacy and Context
The 2013 exhibition “Cross” is considered a milestone in Dove’s artistic development, consolidating years of symbolic refinement, visual discipline, and faith-centered inquiry. It also stands as a rare and powerful example of Christian spirituality expressed through abstract Chinese contemporary art—a space often dominated by conceptual irony, material experimentation, or political critique.
Dove’s works defy classification, yet quietly insist on the enduring need for beauty, truth, and spiritual language in modern life.