About Fang Lijun – a Chinese Artist

Fang Lijun was born on 1963 Born in Handan,is overwhelming.
Hebei province, PR China. The bald headed youthThe exhibition of their works at the China National
which first appeared in the artist’s paintings inGallery was the culmination of that decade and
the early 1990s has become Fang Lijun’ssignalled to the artists that they had been
characteristic figure and has been widelyrecognised. The dramatic closure of the exhibition
interpreted as the symbol of disillusion, mockerysoon after its opening marked the destruction of
and rebellion in present Chinese society. Laterthose goals.
series include the water series, dreamlike worksSelected Exhibitions-
of swimmers, and gigantic, multi-panel, woodblock2006
prints.• Kupferstichkabinett Staatliche Museen zu
Fang Lijun is the leading protagonist of CynicalBerlin, Germany
Realism, the major movement of the post-19892005
era in contemporary Chinese art. Cynical Realism,• National Galerie / China Art Museum,Beijing,
an urban based movement, developed in theChina
aftermath of the events of 1989 which includedArt Cologne, Germany
not only the demonstrations at Tiananmen Square2004
but the closure earlier that year of the “China• Fang Lijun, Leben Ist Jetzt, Alexander Ochs
Avant Garde” exhibition at the China NationalGalleries Berlin,Beijing,Berlin,Germany
Gallery in Beijing by the authorities. Fang’s2002
monumental sized prints revive the ancient Asian• Fang Lijun, Between Beijing & Dali,Woodcuts
practice of woodblock printing -- a complicated& Paintings 1989 - 2002,Ludwig Forum for
and exacting process of carving aInternationaleKunst Aachen
‘negative’ image into a panel, coating the2001
surface in ink, and impressing the image onto• Fang lijun, Asian Fine Art, Berlin
paper; each different colour and tone requires a• Prüss + Ochs Gallery Germany
separate plate and order of printing. Due to their1998
immense scale, Fang’s images are composed• Fang Lijun, Max Protetch Gallery, New York
on several adjoined scrolls, Thematically, each of• From Beijing to Amsterdam and
these prints describe the plight of the individualBack,Stedelijk Museum/Galerie Serieuse
against the ‘mass’, creating a spiritualZaken,Amsterdam
contemplation of solitude the quest for personal1996
probity in the face of adversity.• Fang Lijun: Human Images in an Uncertain
Fang’s painting 30th Mary evokes these sameAge, The Japan Foundation Asia Center,Tokyo
sentiments with a humorous effect. Reminiscent• Fang Lijun, Galerie Bellefroid, Paris
of European church ceiling paintings, Fang portrays• Fang Lijun, Galerie Serieuse Zaken,
an order of ascendancy of same-same kewpieAmsterdam
figures, each based on his own image. one of theConclusions:
most famous images of contemporary ChineseFang Lijun is the leading protagonist of Cynical
art is the Fang Lijun painting owned by the LudwigRealism, the major movement of the post-1989
Museum, Cologne, Series 2 - Number 2, 1992. Theera in contemporary Chinese art. Fang Lijun
main figure, a friend of the artist, could beexhibited his works at the China National Gallery
yawning or yelling while the mute, menacingwhich was the culmination of that decade and
figures in the background bring to mind mindless,signalled to the artists that they had been
manipulated masses. The contrast between therecognised at Chinese art circles.
strong individuality of the main figure and theWhat to Do Next...
dazed conformity of the four background figures