MARCH 14 - MARCH 29 2025

141 CANAL STREET, 3RD FLOOR NEW YORK, NY

With this new series entitled Flutter, David Zheng, takes us on a journey through a rich, immersive atmosphere. These captivating photographs, teetering on the edge of abstraction, stand as his most accomplished body of work to date.

NEW YORK – Eight Wall Gallery is excited to announce our inaugural exhibition, featuring New York-based artist David Zheng (b. 1985, New York). The show will open on March 14th, 5pm to 8pm and will run until March 29th. In conjunction with the exhibition, a special self-published artist book, Flutter, will be available at the gallery. This limited edition of 250 copies will provide an intimate, physical extension of the exhibition.

In this exhibition, Zheng unveils his latest photographic series, Flutter, a poetic exploration of the landscape. Through his meticulous darkroom printing practice, Zheng employs photography as a means to highlight the phenomenon of sensory experience. His reductive works on silver gelatin paper, defined by light, form, and space, reveal his profound sensitivity to the material qualities of the medium. 

“The title Flutter draws inspiration from watching nature documentaries and learning of birds fluttering their wings in symbolic gestures to communicate with one another,” says Zheng. After the sudden passing of his mother in 2023 and the intense emotions of grief that followed, the work he created in 2019 began to take on a new, deeper meaning. The emotional turbulence he experienced during that time mirrored the organic forms of nature he had captured — the low-frequency vibrations of the landscape, expressed through the natural grain of 35mm film, both unsettling and beautiful.

As society grows increasingly fast-paced, stress and time constraints are often seen as signs of ambition. We are constantly overwhelmed by a flood of images and opinions. David Zheng’s work, subtle yet impactful, offers an alternative approach. His abstract photographs create a moment of stillness, encouraging viewers to pause, reflect on their surroundings, and tune into the subtle details around them — the temperature, a gentle breeze, or their physical and emotional state in that moment.

“Perched on the hiking trail, sensing the Bay Area’s volatile climate, feeling its transient power, like the flutter of a small bird’s wings in the wind,” – Zheng. 

Please join us for the opening reception on March 14th from 5-8pm to experience this evocative new body of work.