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Wang Xingwei Biography
Wang Xingwei is a prominent figure in the realm of Chinese contemporary art, known for his eclectic and unpredictable approach to painting. Born in 1969 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, Wang did not hail from an artistic family. It was his innate passion for painting that propelled him into the art world, rather than any familial influence. His career officially began towards the end of the 1980s, a period that marked a significant shift in Chinese contemporary art, as it started to incorporate Western and conceptual features.
Wang's artistic journey commenced in earnest when he attended Shenyang Normal University, where he studied in the art department. Despite feeling isolated and lonely during his university years, Wang was deeply intrigued by foreign art books he found in bookstores. These books, which included works by European artists such as Theodore Gericault, Eugene Delacroix, and Paul Cezanne, opened up a new world of artistic expression to him, vastly different from the urban life in Shenyang. This exposure to Western art had a profound impact on Wang, influencing his compositions and color palette, which often evoke the styles and sensibilities of these early influences.
In the early 1990s, Wang began his career as a painter in Haicheng, a small city in northeastern China. His art education was primarily self-taught, relying on reproductions of European Renaissance to post-Impressionist paintings. This self-directed study allowed him to develop a unique artistic voice, one that was skeptical of established art historical narratives and deeply personal in its approach to painting.
Wang's work is characterized by a rich tapestry of cultural and historical references, often presented through a lens of subtle humor and irony. He is known for his ability to concurrently experiment with diverse conceptual, stylistic, and formal elements within his art. His paintings frequently feature recurring characters and motifs, such as penguins, nurses, and other figures, depicted in various fictitious and often humorous scenarios. These characters are sometimes portrayed in a realistic manner, while at other times they appear as simplified cartoons, reflecting Wang's versatility and refusal to be pigeonholed into a single painting style.
Throughout his career, Wang has been recognized for his refusal to conform to a specific artistic style or to engage in overtly political or sociological commentary. Instead, he has focused on expanding the possibilities of realism and the language of painting itself. His work is a testament to the ongoing relevance of figuration and narrative in art, even as he questions the structures of meaning and belief that underpin the art world.
Wang's practice is also marked by his use of a wide range of techniques, from advertising posters and amateur painting to commercial painting, sketches, graffiti, and illustrations. He switches between these styles frequently and without explanation, a reflection of his intent not to subject his painting style to traditional aesthetic evaluation or to rely on any single model or theoretical methodology.
Wang Xingwei's contributions to the art world have been recognized through various exhibitions and retrospectives. Notably, in 2013, the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing hosted a large-scale retrospective of his work, which was curated by Philip Tinari. This exhibition showcased a selection of Wang's paintings from different stages of his career, organized not chronologically or by subject matter, but by the relationship of the subject to the canvas. This unique approach to curation was in keeping with Wang's own quirky sensibility and his desire for viewers to experience his work without preconceived notions.
Wang Xingwei's art continues to challenge and delight audiences with its playful subversion of art historical norms and its insightful commentary on the nature of painting and representation. His work stands as a significant contribution to the discourse of contemporary Chinese art and its engagement with global art history.
Wang Xingwei Quotes and Sales
of Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
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