（By Wu Ci Ren）What’s the big event happened recently in Chinese art market? The answer should fours on the “The 10th Shanghai Biennale”Please let’s me to introduce a bit on it.
After a long-awaited preparation and a two-year anticipation, the 10th Shanghai Biennale finally unveiled itself on November 22, 2014. This is also the second time that the city’s Power Station of Art hosts the China’s highest profile contemporary art event, which will run through March 31, 2015.
May I show you some art pieces which I find feel very interest with.
Liquidation Maps is a series of works that reexamines and investigates political genocides and massacres in recent Asian history from an occult angle, fusing astrology and astronomy. Yin-ju Chen has chosen five historical events: Lesser Kinmen Massacre in 1987 (Taiwan), Sook Ching Massacres in 1942 (Singapore), Khmer Rouge genocide in 1975 (Cambodia), massacres in East Timor in 1999 and Gwangju Uprising in 1980 (South Korea). Chen has created star charts based on astrological permutations at the time when these historical incidents started, and extrapolated upon the circular nature of the star charts into mandalas for each incident. The star charts and mandalas are symbols of reincarnation and non-linear time. The circular shape bring to mind the circular design of wrist watches, and the Chinese title plays on the Mandarin homophones of “chart” and “wristwatch”.
By re-examining historical incidents through the lens of the occult, Chen is not only attempting to rethink the subjective awareness of history writing in textbooks from the past, she is also questioning whether such actions by humanity are inevitable under the predetermined and inexorable laws of the universe, whether these laws constitute a form of cosmic force majeure. Corresponding to the belief that purification and perfection are achievable through violent means, in the artist’s video work, the planet Mars represents the god of war and Pluto represents the utter persecution and destruction that precedes the reconstitution of order. This underlying concept is similar to Jung’s belief that one’s natal chart could represent a prototype of collective human consciousness. In critiquing Chen’s work, critic Rikey Cheng pointed out that “natal charts are a form of intellectual temptation for their audience, as their symbolic meaning only surrenders to the manipulation of the hand that draws the chart, provided that information is masked and phases are purposely made vague… And these sketches adhere more closely to the labors of ancient astrologers rendering natal charts by hand in the absence of computer technology. Rather than bringing audiences an instant chart readout with internet technology, they lead viewers on a voyage of discovery towards the soul.”
From “A User Guide to Internal Maps”, Rikey Cheng’s commentary at Yin-Ju Chen’s 2014 Dead Souls at the Test Drive exhibition.
All of the art works I introduce above are base on the incarnate of events or social phenomenons. Now I like to Introduce a bronze sculptures artiest Special attention to show his art works reflects the state of the humanities.
“Cross the river at Night”--Sculptures artiest Zhang Yong
Zhang Yong as a young bronze sculptures artiest was born in 1971 Beijing.I knew him from his first solo art show six years ago at “Bridge gallery” of 798 art area Beijing. From then on I always gets be startled by his works. Because he always animated artist who always places people at the heart of his work.People, in all their nakedness, with all their loneliness and contemplation. Zhang Yong’s bronze sculptures are burned into your memory after a single encounter. Is it because of Zhang Yong’s ‘signature’, which is so unique and distinctive. The subdued and earthy colours which are just as engaging as the shape and subject matter of his sculptures. I am always admired by He came to reflect today's social character state with a Chinese traditional narrative methods with his sculptures.
“Burning Boat”-Year 2014
PS, Some of the photos source and interviews extract come from
