Mocube is delighted to announce the opening of Xia Guo’s solo exhibition, “A Certain Month” on May 18, 2019, this is Xia Guo's second solo exhibition in Mocube. The exhibition will continue to July 8, 2019.

Xia Guo's recent art practice reveals the artist's fascination in machines and smart devices. His interest in the development of AI has been integrated into his practice and everyday life. His practice focuses on changing the artist's subjectivity through the participation of others, and thereon to address the parallel relationship among people, objects and colors. The automatic painting machine he invented can mix complex color schemes, that, even those without any professional training in painting are needless to worry about craftsmanship and techniques.

It takes unhinged imagination to emancipate the body, so physical labor could be left for the machines. Duchamp has stated, "When you fight, you would not be able to laugh at the same time." Self-emancipation is the only way to make self-examination possible. The automated painting machine is similar to a time tunnel, through which we could observe how the replacement of self works arduously.

The new project “A Certain Month” presented at Mocube shows two mechanical installations assembled in the gallery. One is the automatic painting machine, an upgraded version of the artist’s invention. For this edition, the artist has replaced its main parts in the aluminum structure, and the setup is to include a trolley system to make adjustment of the machine's position. The metallic beams hanging from this structure are hooked to various types of found objects including, books, toys, props and etc., On the floor, directly underneath these objects are buckets of acrylic paint in three primary colors red, yellow, blue, as well as neutral grays, mixed to the highest saturation level. The circuitry of the servo motor is connected to the engine, motherboard, and a notebook computer. Its operating program is designed to control the sliding platform moving up and down in oscillating motions, so the objects and colors would establish certain order and synergy. The visitors are welcome to participate, provide and make these objects, and could take them away at a low cost.

The other installation One Day, Snow is concerned with a despicable part of history. In the context of an art gallery, it has the possibility to be redefined. The installation consists of a cutting tool powered by a high capacity gear motor and sawtooth. Fixed on the inner wall of the space, the machine spins slowly, serrates, and cuts out a one-meter diameter circular dent which will reveal the past histories left on this exposed wall.