Poster of artist Liu Zhiyi's Solo Exhibition.

In his first solo exhibition, Tianjin-native artist Liu Zhiyi challenges visitors to disregard external appearances and explore their true selves.

The exhibition, entitled "Encyclopedia of the Empire," explores the theme of developing one's "true senses" in an increasingly complex world. Through Liu's use of space, structure, volume, color and brushwork, he creates an aura of "confusion" that provokes rational examination of technology, religion, and other aspects of society.

In "Empire", Liu structures his collection of works to resemble a systematic assembly of knowledge much like an encyclopedia, echoing French Enlightenment philosopher Denis Diderot's concept of the encyclopedia as a product of scientific rationalism. Liu's paintings suggest that the uncertainties of the external world can be faced through rational thought.

The theme emphasizes that since the 1970s, Chinese art has made a spiritual conversion from "suspicious" to "rational" and "internal" to "external".

Liu said he showed a great interest in traditional Chinese painting when he was young.

"Copying models of traditional Chinese calligraphy and paintings for a semester during middle school helped me lay a sound foundation," Liu told China.org.cn.

Besides traditional Chinese art, Liu said inspiration has also come from studying Western cartoons and animations and toys such as Transformers.

"A grain of sand—Liu Zhiyi Solo Exhibition," will run March 25 to April 24 (Except Mondays) at the PIFO New Art Gallery in Beijing's 798 Art District. It is the first exhibition at PIFO for 2011.

Liu graduated from the Mural Painting Department at the Central Academy of Fine Arts of Beijing. His works have been featured at exhibitions at the PIFO gallery since 2006.