For Liu Xiaodong's latest painterly journey and his first exhibition in Los Angeles, he visited another American city in deepest winter, focussing his documentation of a stay in Detroit on a single, central focus for the first time in his career. His sole subject, a Detroit-based tattoo artist and member of a renowned local medieval fighting team, is depicted in full armour, mid-battle in a snowy forest, or else at home, relaxing in a hot tub. The concentration of this painting project on one man, the host and conduit for all of the artist's interactions with the place, leads Liu to portray industrial and suburban Detroit through the lens of John and his historical and loyal band of brothers. A new film and catalogue will accompany the show, featuring Liu’s diary and drawings, as well as folkloric illustrations and tattoo designs by his sitter.
