Wu Liang Yan’s distinctive cherubic style of depicting children is often contrasted with situations and compositions that cross into those far beyond their age or expected capabilities, exposing the darker, less reflected on sides of society that have taken over modern existence. In National Treasure- Popped Up The Universe, the viewer is shown a yet another innocent child- chubby, half dressed and eyes closed in seeming blissful ignorance. However, he holds above him a cloud, while standing upon a rock- as if carefully balancing on one while holding the other stable; Such a serious implication of holding up the heavens while rooted to earth makes the child seem out of place- as if such a task is not for one so young and innocent. Both cloud and mountain are powerful symbols in Chinese culture, symbolizing a quest for peace and convene with nature. They may also signify the material world and that of dream, ambitions and imagination. The child shown between both then brings to mind an entrapment- as if he is caught in the middle of either, not fully able to step either way. Society’s expectations and pressures ground him and yet, being a child, his mind lies in the world of flights of fancy- where he is unable to live out his childhood in peace. This is the tragedy of today’s youth, in the eyes of Wu Liang Yan.
Born in 1982, Fujian Province, China, sculptor Wu Liang Yan creates sculptures representing the new face of Chinese youth. In all his works, the same figure is used - a young child with plump cheeks, bearing a disproportionately large head that is tilted upwards, with a red tie around his neck. Each part of the child's form is laden with meaning in the context of China's history and progression. Wu Liang Yan graduated from the prestigious Fujian Art Institute. Today, his critically acclaimed sculptures have been exhibited in both group and solo exhibitions in Xiamen, Beijing and France. Read More
Selected Exhibitions
2009
Solo Exhibition: "Upwards," Beijing 798, China
China Contemporary Art Exhibition: "Histoire Recente," France
China's Driving Force: The Yearbook of China International Sculpture Exhibition, Beijing, China
2008
China-Korea Arts Exchange Exhibition, Beijing, China
"The Survival of the Scene" Contemporary Art Exhibition, Shangshang International Museum of Art, Beijing, China
The 1st Songzhuang Youth Artists Exhibion, Beijing, China
"Sculpture Party": The First Songzhuang Sculpture Communication Exhibition, Beijing, China
The Power of Life, Beijing, China
2007
Black International Documentary Art Exhibition, Beijing, China
"Made in Songzhuang," Beijing, China
2006
The Fourth International World Chorus Festival V1 Arts Exhibition, Xiamen, China
2005
Gulangyu Island Intenational Contemporary Carving Museum Works Exhibition, Xiamen, China
2004
The Eighth International Character Carving Outdoor Exhibition, Xiamen, China
2003
The First Pop Culture Contemporary Character Carving Art Exhibition of Fujian Province, Quanzhou, China
2001
The First Character Carving Art Exhibition, Xiamen
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