Cai Lei was born in 1983 in Jilin Province, China, and
from a school affiliated to the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, went on to
graduate from the Central Academy of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Arts in
2009. His artworks have been exhibited in the Paul and Lulu Hillard
University Art Museum in the US, Moon River Museum in Beijing, the Museum of
the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, Liu Hai Su Museum in Shanghai, the
Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and the Shanghai Art Fair. Often using
soft leather to show the mature physical form, his work has won multiple awards and is also collected by the Central Academy of Fine Arts, among others.
Viewing 4 works by Cai Lei
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Biography 
Biography
Born in 1983 in Jilin Province, China, Cai Lei works and lives in Beijing. He was graduated from the secondary School associated with Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts in 2000 and from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2009.
Cai Lei’s sculptures, recreating objects or human figures, are characterized by their astonishing hyper-realism. His works are infused with emotion and poetry, striking a balance between seeming fragile and inanimate. Through the tranquil and flat green water in a bathtub filled with baptized branches, the artist aims to convey absurdity and hope. Through depicting androgynous, yet gendered, slender young bodies encased in white boxes reminiscent of a sarcophagus or a shocking skeletal figure of an elderly man lying on a hospital or autopsy like table, his works stir an emotional response from the viewer, causing a feeling of ambiguity or slight discomfort, to fear and dismay in its audiences. The eccentric beauty of his installations cannot be dissociated from the brutal splendor of reality. The artist’s intent is to provoke emotions and thus reflections on the facts of existence often avoided, such as the passing of time and its consequences. In order for a piece to be as close as possible to the truth, Cai Lei is very attentive to his materials and their qualities.
Cai Lei's works have won numerous awards, and have been exhibited at the Moon River Museum in Beijing, the Liu Hai Su Museum in Shanghai and Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Chongqing. The acclaimed exhibition East / West: Visually Speaking organized by The Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette also featured the installation We Series. This show travelled extensively. It was on view at the MoCA Jacksonville, the Colorado University Art Museum, the Frost Art Museum in Miami, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Oregon, the Yellowstone Art Museum and the Art Museum of South Texas.
Artist Statement
“What I want to express is the reality of the piece. It must contain vivid and truthful feelings, and it must not tell lies, nor be deliberate and artificial. My own feelings should be strongly expressed through my works, and I hope they do not need too much explanation, as everything should be directly reflected through the pieces. My work originates from my personal experiences, feelings and my own interpretation of life! Submerging life into the artwork itself, or even into a specific part of it, allows it to emit a truth (only the genuine can conquer the heart and stir the soul) that resonates with the viewers.”- Cai Lei
Awards
2009
Graduate work "We" and "They" won the Class Two award in the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2007
Sculpture, "Dressing", won the Class One award in the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2006
Oil painting, "Changing", collected by the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2005
Sketch, "Duo", won the Class Two award in the Central Academy of Fine Arts
Cai Lei’s sculptures, recreating objects or human figures, are characterized by their astonishing hyper-realism. His works are infused with emotion and poetry, striking a balance between seeming fragile and inanimate. Through the tranquil and flat green water in a bathtub filled with baptized branches, the artist aims to convey absurdity and hope. Through depicting androgynous, yet gendered, slender young bodies encased in white boxes reminiscent of a sarcophagus or a shocking skeletal figure of an elderly man lying on a hospital or autopsy like table, his works stir an emotional response from the viewer, causing a feeling of ambiguity or slight discomfort, to fear and dismay in its audiences. The eccentric beauty of his installations cannot be dissociated from the brutal splendor of reality. The artist’s intent is to provoke emotions and thus reflections on the facts of existence often avoided, such as the passing of time and its consequences. In order for a piece to be as close as possible to the truth, Cai Lei is very attentive to his materials and their qualities.
Cai Lei's works have won numerous awards, and have been exhibited at the Moon River Museum in Beijing, the Liu Hai Su Museum in Shanghai and Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Chongqing. The acclaimed exhibition East / West: Visually Speaking organized by The Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette also featured the installation We Series. This show travelled extensively. It was on view at the MoCA Jacksonville, the Colorado University Art Museum, the Frost Art Museum in Miami, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Oregon, the Yellowstone Art Museum and the Art Museum of South Texas.
Artist Statement
“What I want to express is the reality of the piece. It must contain vivid and truthful feelings, and it must not tell lies, nor be deliberate and artificial. My own feelings should be strongly expressed through my works, and I hope they do not need too much explanation, as everything should be directly reflected through the pieces. My work originates from my personal experiences, feelings and my own interpretation of life! Submerging life into the artwork itself, or even into a specific part of it, allows it to emit a truth (only the genuine can conquer the heart and stir the soul) that resonates with the viewers.”- Cai Lei
Awards
2009
Graduate work "We" and "They" won the Class Two award in the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2007
Sculpture, "Dressing", won the Class One award in the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2006
Oil painting, "Changing", collected by the Central Academy of Fine Arts
2005
Sketch, "Duo", won the Class Two award in the Central Academy of Fine Arts
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018
23 m²: Cai Lei Solo Exhibition, Whitestone Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2016
Echelle des plans, Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing
In Ambiguous Sight, Unaccompanied, Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
2015
In Ambiguous Sight”, Linda Gallery, Beijing, China
2014
Method of Descent, Cai Lei Solo Exhibition, Linda Gallery, Singapore
Selected Group Shows & Exhibitions
Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, USA
Art Museum of South Texas, South Texas
Institute for the Arts, Corpus Christi, USA
2011
Hardworking- Group Exhibitions of New Realistic Sculptors, 0 Field Art Centre, Beijing, China
University Art Museum, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
2010
One and One - Group Exhibition of Contemporary Young Artist, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China
East/West: Visually Speaking, Paul and Lulu Hilliand University Art Museum, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
MoCA Jacksonville, Jacksonville
2009
The Start of a Long Journey - The Collection of Excellent Graduation Works,Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Not in Reality, 0 Field Art Centre, Beijing, China
2008
Troublemaker, Moon River Museum of Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Art Fairs Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
Liu Hai Su Museum, Shanghai, China
Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Sichuan, China
2018
23 m²: Cai Lei Solo Exhibition, Whitestone Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2016
Echelle des plans, Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing
In Ambiguous Sight, Unaccompanied, Tang Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
2015
In Ambiguous Sight”, Linda Gallery, Beijing, China
2014
Method of Descent, Cai Lei Solo Exhibition, Linda Gallery, Singapore
Selected Group Shows & Exhibitions
2017
Communication – China Brazil Contemporary Art Exhibition, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing, China
All Tigers On The Roof, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Shenzhen, China
All Tigers On The Roof, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Shenzhen, China
Motif and Material”, Tang Contemporary, Hong Kong
“This is not an exhibition” NA SPACE, Shanghai, ChinaNA SPACE, Shanghai, China
“This is not an exhibition” NA SPACE, Shanghai, ChinaNA SPACE, Shanghai, China
2016
Non-Mainstream Panting – An Invited Exhibition for Post 80s Artists, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Spinning Tower: An Experimental Ground For Young Art, Time Art Museum, Beijing, China
Unfamiliar, Galerie Paris – Beijing, Paris, France
2015
Across: Arts Need No Explanation, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
Luo Zhong Li Scholarship Ten Years Anniversary Exhibition, Chong Qing Contemporary Art Museum, Chong Qing, China
Thousand of Miles, Award-winning Exhibition, CAFA Museum, Beijing, China
Evolution of Models, A+ Contemporary, Shanghai, China
Concept Symbol, Language and New Dimension, Poly Hong Kong Art Space, Hong Kong
The Story of Painting, Ginkgo Art Centre, Beijing, China
Painting: 20 x 20, Poly Art Museum, Beijing, China
Within Sight – Chinese New Painting at Post-Financial Crisis Era, Frances Foundation Taylor, Paris, France
Within Sight – Chinese New Painting at Post-Financial Crisis Era, Chang Jiang Museum for Contemporary Arts, Chong Qing, China
2014
Communication – China Brazil Contemporary Art Exhibition, Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing, China
All Tigers On The Roof, Hive Centre for Contemporary Art, Shenzhen, China
Motif and Material”, Tang Contemporary, Hong Kong “This is not an exhibition” NA SPACE, Shanghai, ChinaNA SPACE, Shanghai, China
2012
Cai Lei – Li Di Joint Exhibition, Marseilles, France “Colourful”, Raphael Art Centre, Beijing, China
Latitude – Attitude, Parkview Green, Beijing, China
The International Youth Art Festival, Yue Art Gallery, Beijing, China
Empty Eyes, Chinese Sculpture Exhibition of 22 Artists, River Gallery, Beijing, China
5th 54 International Young Art Festivals 2012, Enjoy Museum of Art, Beijing,ChinaYellowstone Art Museum, Billings, USA
Art Museum of South Texas, South Texas
Institute for the Arts, Corpus Christi, USA
2011
Hardworking- Group Exhibitions of New Realistic Sculptors, 0 Field Art Centre, Beijing, China
University Art Museum, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
2010
One and One - Group Exhibition of Contemporary Young Artist, Times Art Museum, Beijing, China
East/West: Visually Speaking, Paul and Lulu Hilliand University Art Museum, University of Louisiana, Lafayette
MoCA Jacksonville, Jacksonville
2009
The Start of a Long Journey - The Collection of Excellent Graduation Works,Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Not in Reality, 0 Field Art Centre, Beijing, China
2008
Troublemaker, Moon River Museum of Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Art Fairs Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Shanghai, China
Liu Hai Su Museum, Shanghai, China
Museum of Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Sichuan, China
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