(Brooklyn, NY) A Space Gallery is proud to present Beneath the Punchline, a solo exhibition by New York-based artist Ruoyu Gong. Using monotype printmaking as his primary medium, Gong embarks on a visual practice that weaves together psychological excavation, improvisational mark-making, and a sharply self-deprecating sense of humor.
At the heart of Gong’s practice lies the lasting influence of Xiangsheng, a form of traditional Chinese comedic dialogue. Known for its puns, rhythmically mismatched exchanges, and exaggerated gestures, Xiangsheng becomes, in Gong’s hands, a visual strategy: absurd scenes, neurotic characters, and emotional tension smuggled beneath the laughter. “I laugh at their ridiculousness,” Gong writes, “but in my dream, I weep with them.”
Trained in traditional oil painting, Ruoyu Gong took an alternative path—using printmaking as a point of departure to reorient his approach to painting, discovering within discipline and control a space for spontaneity and freedom. What began as peripheral experiments soon evolved into a parallel painterly practice—intimate, fast, imperfect, and deeply alive.
Ruoyu Gong centers his practice on monotype and trace monotype. His images do not emerge from structure but from intuition—chaotic yet sincere, like slips of the tongue. He describes these works as “a language that begins in error,” a process of pursuing meaning through misalignment and interruption. For example, In Whisper Louder, he scrapes into layers of acrylic on acetate, transfers the image onto paper, then collages in scraps from his palette—fragments that refuse containment and spill rebelliously beyond the edge. In Untitled (oh my brother!), pencil drawings made on the back of the sheet are pressed into metallic ink, leaving behind faint, shimmering traces that partially fade during wet mounting—like half-remembered scenes dissolving into dreams. These modest-sized prints carry intensity far beyond their scale. Charged with speed, doubt, absurdity, and emotion, they reveal a world caught between contradiction and collapse. Gong returns to recurring motifs—hunched figures, averted eyes, awkward limbs—as if repeating an old joke. They provoke laughter, yes—but a laughter that lands closer to grief.
In Beneath the Punchline, Gong reorganizes the logic of painting, using printmaking to destabilize oil, error to dismantle control, and humor to wrestle with fear. Through this unrepeatable, irrecoverable process, he presses into the paper a tender and jagged record of psychic tension. Every impression is a contradiction. Every laugh is a question mark.
Exhibition Dates
April 10 – 23, 2025
Gallery Hours
Thursday – Sunday | 2 – 6 PM
Opening Reception
April 10, 2025 | 6 – 8 PM
Artist
Ruoyu Gong
Venue
13 Grattan St, #402, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Contact
For more information, please visit
About Artist
Ruoyu Gong (b. 1999, Beijing, China) is a New York-based artist. Working in both oil painting and monotype printmaking, his work delves into the complexity of his unconscious psyche through figurative abstraction in the theme of personal symbolism. Currently pursuing his MFA in Painting at the New York Academy of Art, Ruoyu earned his BFA with honors in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2023. In 2021, he received the certificate of Advanced Painting Seminar at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. Ruoyu’s work has been featured in exhibitions internationally. Recent exhibitions include Nascent, Minimalnyc Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (2025); Mirrors and Masks, Asian Art Contemporary, Online (2025); Evolving Identities, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, NY (2024); Beyond Boundaries, Artsinsquare, Online (2024); AXA Art Prize, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024); Tribeca Ball, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024); International Contest of Contemporary Art – YICCA 23/24, Matalon Foundation, Milan, Italy (2024); Deck the Walls, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2023); Why Do You Do It?, Boomer Gallery, London, UK (2023); Illustration Senior Invitational, ISB Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI (2023). His work has also been featured in publications including Divide Magazine, Issue #13 (2025); Artist Talk Magazine, Issue #36 (2025); Artistic Tribe NYC, Volume 3 – NO.1 (2025). In addition, Ruoyu has won awards including the 1st Place of the Mirrors and Masks International Online Juried Exhibition, Asian Art Contemporary, Online (2025); Patron’s Scholar Award, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024-25); Merit Scholarship, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY (2024-25, 2023-24); 1st Place of the International Contest of Contemporary Art – YICCA 23/24, Milan, Italy (2023-24).
About Gallery
A Space Gallery, founded in 2024, is a pioneering incubator dedicated to discovering and supporting emerging artists in the contemporary art world. As a forward-thinking platform, we provide young talents with the space and opportunities to experiment, grow, and connect with a wider audience. Through collaborations with visionary artists and brands, we curate cutting-edge exhibitions, immersive art events, and dynamic cultural experiences that push the boundaries of artistic expression. More than just a gallery, A Space Gallery is a hub for creativity, dialogue, and innovation, shaping the future of contemporary art.
(text & photo courtesy of A Space Gallery)
