Title: Yu Hong: Expressing Identity in Political Turmoil

Yu Hong, “Simple Hands” 190 X 110 acrylic on canvas, 2003.

For my exhibition I would like to showcase Yu Hong’s unique ability to represent current political issues in a powerful way. Yu Hong repeatedly creates pieces that comment on the negative societal ideas of women in China. I want to include pieces from her whole life since she has painted herself amongst these pressures. Additionally, in the 1990’s Yu created a series that depicted people in melancholic states. I think this is important to include in the exhibit because it is her remark on the harsh living conditions in China. Due to the rapid development of China throughout this time period, many people were not taken care of by the government. Yu successfully depicts this issue in her artwork by displaying people hunched over and hopeless about the future.

Additionally, Yu created the series Witnessing Growing Up, in the early 2000’s. I think this series is important to include since it depicts her personal account of what growing up during Communist China and the Cultural Revolution was like. Additionally, she added her daughter in the pieces to comment on human development and how children can be blissfully unaware of the harsh realities around them (Piëch, 2003). I think this series is important for the exhibition because it displays Yu’s desire early on to create images that represent current day issues.

Lastly, I would like to include some of her more recent work that she created in 2013, a series called Wondering Clouds. In this solo exhibition she explores the female perspective while remarking on social groups of the time. Through her painterly strokes she is able to create a fantasy, dream-like world amongst the clouds. She paints people from her own life and places them in a dynamic manner as they run through the heavens. Throughout all of the different series I will mention her unique stylistic brush strokes that appear highly realistic from afar. This engages the viewer and creates a different experience for when they come closer to the painting. Most of her oil and acrylic paintings evoke intense emotions and utilize full range of color. Yu is a pioneer for contemporary female artists of her time, paving the way for other women to be recognized and successful artists. 

Bibliography

NOWNESS. 2013. https://www.nowness.com/story/yu-hong-the-laughing-heart.

Piëch, Xenia. “Yu Hong’s Witness to Growth: Historic Determination and Individual Contingency.” Academia. September 2003. http://www.academia.edu/11968321/Yu_Hong_s_Witness_to_Growth_Historic_Determination_and_Individual_Contingency.

““Wondering Clouds” – Solo Exhibition by Yu Hong Unveiled …”

http://en.cafa.com.cn/wondering-clouds-solo-exhibition-by-yu-hong-unveiled-at-long-march-space.html.