>Masterpieces of Postmodern Art


abstraction, Postmodern Art, Exhibition, Illusive Lights, Nicholaas Chiao

Title of the Exhibition:

Postmodern Art:

Illusive Lights



Date of Creation:
2016-2023
Genre:
Abstract Art, Portrait, Still Life, Animalism
Period Movement:
Postmodernism, Contemporary Art, Abstract Expressionism, Geometric Abstraction
Technique:
Sculpture, Painting
Materials:
Original digital artworks, Original drawings on paper, Paintings, Sculptures
Dimensions:
Variable


Exhibition Description:
This art selection articulates a central thesis: that postmodern art serves as a critical lens for interrogating how beauty and other exceptional qualities intersect with, challenge, or reinforce societal taboos and collective values. To make this interrogation explicit, the exhibition is analyzed here through the lens of cultural studies theory, which asserts that art operates as a site for negotiating meaning between societal norms and individual or collective resistance. Serving as a dynamic, eclectic exploration of diverse forms, colors, emotions, and anxieties reflective of contemporary society, the exhibition features polychromatic paintings, many of which depict flowers, beautiful women, ancient dragons, biomorphic abstractions, grid-based works, and other types of abstract compositions. Some works are titled after musical compositions or melodies. Through these works, the artist critically examines how rare and striking beauty, as well as other unique properties, intersect and create social taboos and idols, highlighting how items with exceptional properties challenge or reinforce societal norms. By drawing connections between the enduring concepts of beauty, wealth, and prosperity and their powerful influence on the collective consciousness, the collection prompts viewers to consider how these ideas continue to shape societies across historical and cultural contexts. Thematically, and in line with cultural studies perspectives, the exhibition interrogates how symbols of order and harmony can both stabilize and constrain societies, reinforcing Stuart Hall’s argument that cultural symbols can facilitate both hegemony and contestation. Governments, as historical entities, are unified by significant national ideas and languages, with beauty and justice serving as cultural forces that command and unify vast populations. The exhibition invites viewers not only to experience the lawfulness of beauty and universal harmony but also to reflect on the mechanisms by which art both represents and questions these unifying forces. The artist's intent is to provoke critical engagement with beauty as a normative ideal, challenging viewers to consider how aesthetic values intersect with power structures and communal identity formation. Many of the artists’ styles emulate the visual languages of various nations. Notable works include "Fisherman's Dream," "The National Interests," and "Birth of Chaos." "Fisherman's Dream" is an abstract painting featuring colorful nets, geometric forms, stripes, and circles, with warm colors, violet accents, and a strong emphasis on yellow. "The National Interests" presents a red-hued map with brand-like symbols replacing cities, illustrating contemporary expansionism through brand culture. In "Birth of Chaos," artificial lightning bolts descend from the gallery ceiling to the floor, creating an immersive and magical experience. Influences include Walter de Maria, Ellsworth Kelly, and Joan Miró. The artist's unique contribution lies in applying the rule of halves in composition and in a disciplined approach to color theory.

In Private Collections






utopia, idyll, bright future, abstraction, abstract art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Empire of the Sun 2, 2025, Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas
utopia, bright future, abstraction, abstract art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Empire of the Sun, 2025, Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas
utopia, art government, bright future, abstraction, art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Empire of the Sun 3, 2025, Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas
empire of sun, bright future, abstraction, art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Empire of the Sun 4, 2025, Oil and Acrylic Painting on Canvas
solar milk, color food, abstraction, abstract art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 2, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar milk, color food, abstraction, abstract art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 4, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar food, ethical solar food, abstraction, art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 1, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar food, ethical solar food, abstraction, art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 3, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar food, ethical solar food, abstraction, art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 6, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar food, ethical solar food, abstraction, art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 8, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar milk, color food, abstraction, abstract art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 5, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
solar milk, color food, abstraction, abstract art, arts, artist, artists, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Solar Milk 7, 2026, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
gladioli, rose, still life, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
The Flower Bomb, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
gladioli, rose, still life, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Gladioli and Rose in the Orange Room, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
gladioli, rose, still life, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Still life with Gladioli and Rose on Red and Violet Background, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
gladioli, rose, still life, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Still life with Gladioli and Rose on Black Background, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
lily, still life, flower, flowers, floral, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Lily-Lily, Still Life, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
gladioli, rose, still life, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Still life with Gladioli and Rose with Orange Shadow, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
daisies, cornflowersart, flowers, still life, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Daisies and Cornflowers, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
peonies, still life, flowers, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Still life with Peonies as Fireworks, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Dahlia, female portrait, woman, beauty, beautiful , frontal portrait, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Dahlia, Portrait, 2023, Mixed Media Watercolor Drawing on Canvas
Jackie, female portrait, woman, beauty, beautiful , frontal portrait, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Jackie, Portrait, 2023, Mixed Media Oil Painting on Canvas
Melissa, female portrait, female, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Melissa, Portrait, 2023, Mixed Media Watercolor Painting on Canvas
baba, portrait, old woman, grandmother, granny, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Baba, Portrait, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
blue dragon, animalism, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Dancing Dragon, Blue, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
colorful dragon, animalism, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Dragon on Gold, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
dancing dragon, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Dragon on Red, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
Tsushima Dragon, Japanese Dragon, art, arts, artist, artists, drawing, drawings, New York, Brooklyn, pencil, marker, watercolor, canvas, paper
Tsushima Dragon, 2023, Mixed Media Painting on Canvas
flowers and satellites, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Flowers and Satellites #3, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
8, satellites, yellow, flowers, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Flowers and Satellites #8, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
10, satellites, flowers, neutral yellow, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Flowers and Satellites #10, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
black, flowers, satellites, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Flowers and Satellites #9, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
flowers, leaves, satellites, green, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Flowers and Satellites, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
magic forest, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Magic Forest, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
fisherman's dream, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Fisherman's Dream, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
giraffe, sculpture, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Giraffe, Abstract Sculpture, 2022, readymade metal, plastic, aluminium
calendar, black, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Year in Black, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, pencil and mixed media drawing on paper
calendar, white, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Four Years, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
love, colors, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Bitch Forever in My Head, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
doors and entrants, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Your Doors and Mirrors, Abstract Composition, 2016, painting on readymade door
garden, spring, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Garden on May Day, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
epitaphy, sculpture, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Epitaph of the Narcissus, 2016, oil painting on canvas
national interests, red map, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
The National Interests, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
Soviet Brands, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Brands for Post-Soviets, Composition, 2022, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
geometric abstraction, 6 colors, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
6 Colors, Abstract Composition, 2022, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
green map, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Freedom Comes with the Dominance of the Color of Your Love, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic painting on canvas
blue map, sculpture, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Memory of the Arctic Sea, Abstract Composition, 2023, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
big labyrinth, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Minotaur's Dream, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
death in Rome, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Tiberius Grahhus, Abstract Composition, 2015, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
waterloo, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
The Waterloo, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
postmodern art, contemporary art, artist, geometric minimalism, Brooklyn, painting, sculpture, digital painting, Nicholaas Chiao, Nicholas Chistiakov
Linear Development II, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
musical, ouverture, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Ouverture, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
Self portrait as Saint George, Figurative Composition, 2016, mixed media sculpture
Deep Deep Blue, Figurative Composition, 2016, mixed media sculpture
black moon, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Expecting Black Moon, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
mirrored, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
I Love Becoming You, Abstract Composition, 2015, mixed media painting on form
tyrant, dark theme, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Tyrant in Hell, 2016, acrylic, spray paint and mixed media painting on canvas
bloody summer, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Summer Bloody Summer, 2016, acrylic, spray paint and mixed media painting on canvas
Observation of Death, Figurative Composition, 2015, mixed media sculpture
my pain from harming you, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
My Disease Comes from Pain I Give to the Ruins of Your Temple, 2016, acrylic painting on canvas
heart of planet, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
The Heart of Planet, Abstract Composition, 2016, mixed media Gallery-size Installation
flag, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Flag, Abstract Composition, 2016, acrylic, oil and mixed media painting on canvas
Value of gold, Companion of Dual Life, Figurative Composition, 2016, mixed media sculpture
stalingrad, sculpture, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Stalingrad, Abstract Composition, 2023, metal
lightning bolts, installation, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
The Birth of Chaos, Abstract Composition, 2017, mixed media, electricity, gallery-size
pandemia, newspaper news, abstraction, abstractionism, postmodern art, exhibition, painting, Nicholaas Chiao
Pandemia, Abstract Composition, 2023, mixed media painting on newspaper


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