The Dao of Mastery is a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exhibition that brings together two artists from distinct worlds—Baogang Lin, a sculptor and educator deeply rooted in Chinese tradition, and Cris, a contemporary artist based in Switzerland whose practice blends abstraction, poetry, and visual media.
The exhibition explores what it means to be a “mastery ” in our time—not merely a master of technique, but an individual who cultivates presence, intention, and spiritual depth through the act of making. Here, “Dao” refers not only to a creative path, but to a way of being—fluid, attuned, and in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Through sculpture, painting, and poetry, Lin and Cris approach the world from different cultural perspectives, yet converge on shared questions: What is the role of art in a fractured world? How do material, memory, and form connect us to something beyond ourselves? Where do boundaries lie—between disciplines, cultures, and perceptions—and how might they dissolve?
Baogang Lin’s work is grounded in public space, cultural memory, and the weight of form. His sculptures carry silence, density, and time—offering moments of stillness and reflection. Across decades of practice, he has shaped a sculptural language that speaks to both the ancient and the present.
Cris, by contrast, creates experiential works that drift between the poetic and the ephemeral. Through pigment, rhythm, and language, he invites audiences into open-ended states of perception and awareness.
Together, their practices form a dialogue that is both philosophical and deeply human. The works do not attempt to explain each other, but to coexist—like parallel rivers flowing toward the same unseen source. This exhibition is part of an ongoing commitment to cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchange. Rather than positioning East and West as opposites, The Dao of the Matery reveals their shared resonances—through craftsmanship, intuition, and a mutual search for timeless understanding. Take your time as you move through this space. Let the works speak—not only through what is shown, but through what is left unsaid. In the space between form and stillness, between gesture and breath, you may encounter the quiet clarity of the Dao.
Dialogue between Eastern and Western Civilizations: Baogang Lin & Cris
Academic Directors:
Curators: Hui An, Tingyi Maria Huang
Executive Curator: Hongchang Liu
Executive Team: Qingguo Wang, Ran Dian, Jiayue Bian, Ke Li, Jiangtao Wang
Organizers:
School of Art, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology
RHYTHMMM, New York
Co-organizer:
Thematic Creation Research Center, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology
Supporting Partner:
Liangbaolou
Media Support:
Artron Art Network, Shaanxi Daily, Shaanxi Radio and Television, Xi’an Evening News, Culture and Art News, Sanqin Metropolis Daily, Xi’an Curation, Art Xi’an
大匠之道
—— 无界•蔺宝钢、克里斯，东西文明对话展
学术主持：
策展人：安 辉 黄婷壹
执行策展人：刘红昌
执行团队：王庆国、段冉、边加悦、李科、王江涛
主办单位：西安建筑科技大学艺术学院
美国纽约陌上空间
承办单位：西安建筑科技大学主题创作研究中心
协办单位：亮宝楼
媒体支持：雅昌艺术网 陕西日报 陕西广播电视台 西安晚报 文化艺术报 三秦都市报 西安策展 艺术西安
