Artist finds courage going abroad
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, June 17, 2014
A solo exhibition by young artist Yang Kai titled "In-between" is currently on display through July 15.
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A painting by artist Yang Kai |
He credits the time he spent at the Kent Institute of Art & Design in Canterbury, UK, with helping him grow as an artist.
"It was really in the UK that I threw away all the shackles and became more courageous," he says. "Everyday during my stay in the UK was different. All my inspiration in my paintings was ignited there.
"It is strange that for me, it is difficult to find 'the profound culture' in China, but easier in the West."
Yang's paintings are very much reflections of his heritage and culture.
A Buddha's head and Ming-style furniture, often missing parts, are common subjects in his ink-wash paintings. He uses what he calls a "mosaic mode" to blur the outlines to create more watery scenes.
Reflecting on the missing furniture parts in his paintings, Yang says it was very much intentional.
"Ming style furniture has always been considered as one of the representatives of Chinese traditional culture," the artist says. "The shape of the furniture forced people to keep a certain feel or rites in their life with a serene posture. But do such kind of rites still exist in China today?"
In the eyes of many, his ink-wash paintings are not rooted in tradition.
"That's why I named this exhibition ‘In-between,' because art forms, regardless of whether they are from the West or East, should not be fixed and unchanged," he adds. "Art should always be flexible and vital."
Yang graduated from the middle school affiliated to the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in 2007. Like many of his peers, he then decided to study abroad to "see the splendid outside world."
Date: Through July 15, 10am-5pm
Address: Bldg 9, 140 Tianlin Rd
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