Liu Wei (1965-)
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Liu Wei (1965-) is a contemporary Chinese painter. He is known for creating the genre of cynical realism with Fang Lijun. He is also known for a constantly changing artistic style which reflects the sense of purposelessness that he feels in contemporary society. He currently resides in Beijing.
Liu was born in Beijing. Growing up during Chairman Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, Liu witnessed firsthand the attempt of the Chinese government at crushing the artistic individualism that artists at the time were trying to achieve. After the Cultural Revolution ended, he began his artistic endeavors in earnest, responding to the idealism created by new leader, Deng Xiaoping. Although many did not agree with his cynical viewpoint, he found a few supporters in those who felt as though this new optimistic period of Chinese artistic output would not last.
In 1989, Liu earned a degree in printmaking from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Unfortunately, the June Fourth Massacre in Tiananmen Square also occurred during this year, ending the sense of renewed openness that many Chinese artists had been feeling since Mao Zedong's death in 1976. Liu's artistic output after 1989 reflects this negativity that the Chinese people were now feeling towards the conservative attitudes and policies of the government. Continuing through the present, his artwork displays this discontent figuratively through the use of carefully placed symbols. In the past decade, Liu has begun to experiment with a wide variety of different artistic influences such as Chinese calligraphy, expressionism, and ancient architecture. While he initially focussed on socio-political struggles localized around his native China, he often now deals with the strife of humanity on a more global scale, reflecting on the globalized ideas that he now accesses in a more open China.
Today, Liu continues to paint, constantly changing his artistic style; in this way, he defies artistic categorization. His works have been exhibited around the world in Asia, Europe, and North America in both group and solo exhibitions.
Liu was born in Beijing. Growing up during Chairman Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution, Liu witnessed firsthand the attempt of the Chinese government at crushing the artistic individualism that artists at the time were trying to achieve. After the Cultural Revolution ended, he began his artistic endeavors in earnest, responding to the idealism created by new leader, Deng Xiaoping. Although many did not agree with his cynical viewpoint, he found a few supporters in those who felt as though this new optimistic period of Chinese artistic output would not last.
In 1989, Liu earned a degree in printmaking from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Unfortunately, the June Fourth Massacre in Tiananmen Square also occurred during this year, ending the sense of renewed openness that many Chinese artists had been feeling since Mao Zedong's death in 1976. Liu's artistic output after 1989 reflects this negativity that the Chinese people were now feeling towards the conservative attitudes and policies of the government. Continuing through the present, his artwork displays this discontent figuratively through the use of carefully placed symbols. In the past decade, Liu has begun to experiment with a wide variety of different artistic influences such as Chinese calligraphy, expressionism, and ancient architecture. While he initially focussed on socio-political struggles localized around his native China, he often now deals with the strife of humanity on a more global scale, reflecting on the globalized ideas that he now accesses in a more open China.
Today, Liu continues to paint, constantly changing his artistic style; in this way, he defies artistic categorization. His works have been exhibited around the world in Asia, Europe, and North America in both group and solo exhibitions.