CHEN WENLING
The Lightness of Being
Chen Wenling's First Solo Exhibition in Australia
24 Nov 2021 - 29 Jan 2022
Guest Curator: Dr Geoff Raby
As life creeps back towards a covid-normal world, nearly two years after the entire planet was knocked off course by an unexpected and unknown disease, it is time to reflect on what we have learnt about our lives, that of others and of being – weak, vulnerable, resilient, and playful in the face of adversity.
Chinese contemporary artist Chen Wenling’s first Australian solo exhibition presents a mirror to ourselves. It shows how we respond to adversity, power, avariciousness, consumerism, and the constant pressure just to be ‘happy’.
Wenling’s now world-renowned ‘red men’ series stems from the artist’s own experiences in Fujian province. Emaciated naked red men grinning madly, defiantly covering their ridiculously tiny genitals, standing on their heads balancing smaller men on the soles of their feet, bending backwards and forwards and every which way as a statement of their individual wills, despite having nothing.
The solid bronze figures are painted with bright red enamel automobile paint. Red is used with uniform powerful ironic effect in these works. Playfully, lyrically the red men are speaking the naked truth.
Arguably, Chen Wenling is China’s most recognisable sculptor from any period. His body of work is much broader than sculpture but has rarely been exhibited outside China. Whether it is sculpture or works on paper his impishness and roguishness are instantly seen. The works stand out as satirical, while joyful and uplifting in their frequent absurdity. It is the Lightness of being Chen Wenling.
Wenling is well known in Australia, especially through his appearances at Sculpture by the Sea. He was the first Chinese artist to be included in Sculpture by the Sea and has been invited back eight times. Sculpture by the Sea helped launch his international career. And we remember the late curator, Anni Ma, who first introduced Wenling to Australia.
The show at Vermillion Art includes works from the artist’s earlier period through to his latest works, some of which are shown for the first time anywhere. It presents a diverse body of work. The works on paper show astonishing imagination and originality, but somewhere is an echo of the influences of the Absurdist Marcel du Champ and the Surrealist René Magritte.
He is now doing large scale calligraphic works painted on his studio floor using huge calligraphy brushes, just as Jackson Pollock did with oils for his large-scale abstract works in the 1950s. He works fast and furiously, producing powerful yet elegant Chinese characters. The characters for Freedom and for Disease are featured in this show.
Wenling is constantly drawing, painting, moulding, and talking. His high energy and activity are present in everything he does. His works feel as if they’re bursting with new ideas.
The Lightness of Being refers to how Wenling deals with a world of great change, threats, uncertainty, and great inequality of wealth and power. Through irony, allegory, and most importantly impish wicked humour he helps us see that in each of us the human spirit endures and will prevail. He is the artist of our times.
Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s ambassador to China (2007–2011). He is the guest curator of The Lightness of Being.
Chinese contemporary artist Chen Wenling’s first Australian solo exhibition presents a mirror to ourselves. It shows how we respond to adversity, power, avariciousness, consumerism, and the constant pressure just to be ‘happy’.
Wenling’s now world-renowned ‘red men’ series stems from the artist’s own experiences in Fujian province. Emaciated naked red men grinning madly, defiantly covering their ridiculously tiny genitals, standing on their heads balancing smaller men on the soles of their feet, bending backwards and forwards and every which way as a statement of their individual wills, despite having nothing.
The solid bronze figures are painted with bright red enamel automobile paint. Red is used with uniform powerful ironic effect in these works. Playfully, lyrically the red men are speaking the naked truth.
Arguably, Chen Wenling is China’s most recognisable sculptor from any period. His body of work is much broader than sculpture but has rarely been exhibited outside China. Whether it is sculpture or works on paper his impishness and roguishness are instantly seen. The works stand out as satirical, while joyful and uplifting in their frequent absurdity. It is the Lightness of being Chen Wenling.
Wenling is well known in Australia, especially through his appearances at Sculpture by the Sea. He was the first Chinese artist to be included in Sculpture by the Sea and has been invited back eight times. Sculpture by the Sea helped launch his international career. And we remember the late curator, Anni Ma, who first introduced Wenling to Australia.
The show at Vermillion Art includes works from the artist’s earlier period through to his latest works, some of which are shown for the first time anywhere. It presents a diverse body of work. The works on paper show astonishing imagination and originality, but somewhere is an echo of the influences of the Absurdist Marcel du Champ and the Surrealist René Magritte.
He is now doing large scale calligraphic works painted on his studio floor using huge calligraphy brushes, just as Jackson Pollock did with oils for his large-scale abstract works in the 1950s. He works fast and furiously, producing powerful yet elegant Chinese characters. The characters for Freedom and for Disease are featured in this show.
Wenling is constantly drawing, painting, moulding, and talking. His high energy and activity are present in everything he does. His works feel as if they’re bursting with new ideas.
The Lightness of Being refers to how Wenling deals with a world of great change, threats, uncertainty, and great inequality of wealth and power. Through irony, allegory, and most importantly impish wicked humour he helps us see that in each of us the human spirit endures and will prevail. He is the artist of our times.
Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s ambassador to China (2007–2011). He is the guest curator of The Lightness of Being.
About the Artist
Chen Wenling (b.1969, Fujian, China) is one of the most globally acclaimed contemporary sculptors. He has achieved international fame from the late 1990s with his characteristic ‘Red Memory’ series of sculptures featuring laughing, naked boy figures covered in shiny, bright red vehicle duco.
Chen was trained at the Sculpture Department, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing. Chen has participated in significant exhibitions including the Vancouver Biennale (2021), the 55th Venice Biennale (2013), and the Busan Biennale (2008). Chen’s works have been selected for Sculpture by the Sea multiple times in both Bondi and Cottesloe Beach in Australia. His works are in the permanent public collections of National Art Museum of China; Houston Museum of Fine Arts, USA; Denver Art Museum, USA; White Rabbit Collection, Australia; Western Australian Museum, Australia; ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Denmark; National Gallery of Korea, Korea; Seoul Museum of Art, Korea, etc.
Chen Wenling (b.1969, Fujian, China) is one of the most globally acclaimed contemporary sculptors. He has achieved international fame from the late 1990s with his characteristic ‘Red Memory’ series of sculptures featuring laughing, naked boy figures covered in shiny, bright red vehicle duco.
Chen was trained at the Sculpture Department, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing. Chen has participated in significant exhibitions including the Vancouver Biennale (2021), the 55th Venice Biennale (2013), and the Busan Biennale (2008). Chen’s works have been selected for Sculpture by the Sea multiple times in both Bondi and Cottesloe Beach in Australia. His works are in the permanent public collections of National Art Museum of China; Houston Museum of Fine Arts, USA; Denver Art Museum, USA; White Rabbit Collection, Australia; Western Australian Museum, Australia; ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, Denmark; National Gallery of Korea, Korea; Seoul Museum of Art, Korea, etc.
About the Curator
Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s ambassador to China (2007–2011); ambassador to APEC (2003–2005); and ambassador to the World Trade Organization (1998–2001). He is chairman of VisAsia at the Art Gallery of NSW and chairman of the Institute for Australian and Chinese Arts and Culture at the Western Sydney University. Raby was awarded the Order of Australia in 2019 for services to Australia–China relations and to international trade. Raby has been a long term supporter and collector of Chinese contemporary art.
Dr Geoff Raby AO was Australia’s ambassador to China (2007–2011); ambassador to APEC (2003–2005); and ambassador to the World Trade Organization (1998–2001). He is chairman of VisAsia at the Art Gallery of NSW and chairman of the Institute for Australian and Chinese Arts and Culture at the Western Sydney University. Raby was awarded the Order of Australia in 2019 for services to Australia–China relations and to international trade. Raby has been a long term supporter and collector of Chinese contemporary art.
