Woman – Ma Desheng Solo Exhibition | 10 September - 12 October 2025

"Stones are eternal, and so are women. Combining the two creates a ‘super eternity’, which is the inspiration behind merging women’s figures with stones in my art. Moulding women into stone-like forms through biomorphism represents my pinnacle praise for women."

— Ma Desheng

3812 Gallery is thrilled to present “Woman – Ma Desheng Solo Exhibition”, the inaugural exhibition at the gallery’s newly established space within the historic landmark The Whiteley London. As the first Chinese contemporary art gallery to open an outpost in the British capital in 2018, 3812 Gallery is poised to unveil a groundbreaking solo exhibition dedicated to the illustrious Ma Desheng, one of China's most eminent contemporary diasporic artists. “Woman” will run from 10 September to 12 October 2025, with an opening reception held 12 September at 6 to 8pm with the artist’s presence.

Women in Ma Desheng’s Oeuvre

3812 Gallery London’s inaugural show focuses on a recurring subject in the oeuvre of Ma Desheng: the female form. Entitled “Woman”, the exhibition presents over 20 works, making it the largest and most comprehensive showcase of this body of work ever staged. Curated by 3812’s co-founder Calvin Hui, the never- or rarely-before-seen works trace the evolution of the female nude in Ma Desheng’s practice over the past 45 years — from his subversive and solemn late-1970s woodblock prints, to his emphatically silhouetted ink paintings from the 1980s, to his minimalistic suggestive sketches in the 1990s, and finally to his most recent monumental canvases, enveloped in loud, vivid colour schemes. The works testify to an artist constantly reinventing himself, yet all consistently speak volumes about his profound reverence for the existence of women and Mother Nature.

“The ‘Woman' series naturalises, eternalises, and idealises the existence of women and their inherent values — all of which are rooted in and driven by my sincere admiration for the elegance of the female form and the virtues women embody.” - Ma Desheng

Ma Desheng began depicting the female form in the wake of the Cultural Revolution, as an expression of artistic freedom and a willingness to challenge conventions. However, it was after moving to Paris in 1986 that he developed his sensuous ink-wash nudes. Inspired by his exposure to modern masters such as Henri Matisse, these early works also reflect his ambition to renew ink painting through a shift in technique and a break from traditional themes.

After a car accident in 1992, Ma Desheng spent two years in hospital and underwent eight years of rehabilitation. When he returned to painting in 2002, his impaired mobility led him to forsake ink wash on paper and experiment with acrylic painting. Now working from a wheelchair, he often uses a brush as an extension to reach his large canvases— much like Matisse did in his later years.

Ma Desheng at his studio in Paris, 2025

Over the 45 years covered by this exhibition, his techniques have changed, but his focus remains on the essential lines of the body and the depiction of voluptuous women in sexually provocative poses, often with disproportionately small, faceless heads reduced to a pin-like shape.

"The female nude is an eternal theme that I have never abandoned, always finding different forms. If we went back to a matriarchal society, life would be more peaceful, and there would be more love." – Ma Desheng

Echoes of 3812’s New Vision

As the inaugural exhibition in the new space at The Whiteley London, “Woman” further consolidates 3812’s curatorial DNA of “Eastern Origin and Contemporary Expression”, with Ma Desheng’s East-meets-West artistic manoeuvre offering a precise and potent interpretation of the gallery’s enduring vision.

Calvin Hui, Co-founder and Chairman of 3812 Gallery, Curator of “Woman”, says:

“Launching us on an experimental artistic journey and reaching a new height in the gallery’s quest for cultural reinvention and East-and-West artistic dialogue, this exhibition marks a groundbreaking and rewarding milestone in both Mr. Ma’s artistic path and our own vision.

“It is a huge honour to inaugurate our new London space with an exhibition dedicated to Ma Desheng. The artist’s life and practice exemplify the raison d’être of 3812, which is to foster a better understanding of Chinese contemporary art and establish a dialogue between Asian and Western art.”

Mark Peaker, Co-founder and CEO of 3812 Gallery, remarks:

“W2 is confirming its status as a vibrant new “art postcode” in the capital. We are very excited to relocate in the Whiteley which will enable us to be closer to our international clientele and engage with many more collectors living and staying in Hyde Park”.