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FANG Lijun, <2014-2015>, Oil on canvas, 400x720cm, 2015
FANG Lijun 2014-2015
Fang Lijun is one of the most influential artists in contemporary Chinese art. The ‘bald’ figure in his paintings has become the most classic symbol of contemporary Chinese art, and his work style has been defined as falling under the category of cynical realism. Cynical realism was a resistance against the culture during those times. Thus, expressions that sought to break away from heavy and serious themes as well as precipitous screens were dominant. <2014-2015>(2015) is an 8 meters wide painting, and it is one of Fang Lijun’s recent major works. The numerous, big babies in the painting have their backs to the audience and face the huge sun. The strong light the sun gives out seems like massive energy emitted by an atomic nucleus. Babies in the painting stare vacantly at the scene silently. Such intense yet tranquil irony is the most gripping of parts in Fang Lijun’s recent works. In the recent years, his works display a trend of the screen getting bigger and bigger. Moreover, whereas his past works were mainly about bald figures, more and more baby figures are featured in his recent works. This could be closely related to him getting a daughter in 2005. The birth of his daughter must have been a significant change to Fang Lijun in which his life turned into that of a father, and that unconsciously melted into his personal life, unwittingly influencing his work style. |
