Million dollar memories
0 
Stepping back
Zhang's works always focus on the relationship between past, memory and history, elements which are still present in his new work, despite his innovative materials and subjects.
Zhang's new works attracted doubts from some critics. His previous exhibition Record, held at the Beijing branch of the New York-based gallery PaceWildenstein, drew complaints that his work only reflected on the past rather than depicting modern realities.
Zhang is quite frank and at ease when challenged with these doubts. "I'm not sensitive to the current reality," he said. "I like things with a distance from me, and I can only know how to depict them when viewing with such a distance."
That's also why he seldom goes out to draw from nature directly, he said. "I'm not comfortable in painting things in front of me, and am often at a loss on how to start my first stroke."
"What I portray is of course my heart," he added. "I guess those things in my memory are what I really care about."
Record-breaking paintings
Zhang is also one of the valued Chinese contemporary artists, with his works hotly pursued by collectors from around the world.
His 1992 masterpiece Chapter of a New Century - Birth of the People's Republic of China II, was sold in October for HK$52.18 million ($6.69 million) at Sotheby's Hong Kong.
At a period when the Chinese contemporary art market has come down sharply from its heights several years ago, this price is especially remarkable, breaking Zhang's previous records.
In response to the high price, Zhang said it's all down to luck. "There should be several artists who sell at such prices in China, as the general trend is rising prices," he said.
"But as an artist, I don't care much about the prices. What I need to do is make art that is honest to my heart."
Go to Forum >>0 Comments