The Subject of your works is about people, what kind of thing/ theme are you interested in and love to express in your works?
I am interested in expressing my inner most feelings about life and the world around me that I experience and absorb. The human form can express so much in body language, I feel this language is one of the strongest forms of expression of emotion.
You use lots of materials in your works and created a space in a 2-D painting, how does this kind of artistic language developed?
I love to constantly experiment with my art. I believe the whole point to being an artist is to be creative and to create a newness, to strive to make something that has not been seen before. It is an exciting journey to take as you never know where you will end up. The enjoyment comes from making new discoveries and solving problems.
Chinese people know you from Art Beijing, we think your work is fresh, creative and shocking eyes in a very good way, especially your DIMENSIONAL EDITIONS.
How did this series come about?
I wanted to produce a series of editions that could capture some of the aspects of my Dimensional Painting language. It was an exciting challenge to experiment with new technologies and manufacturing processes. From full colour holograms to new forms of lenticular print processes and paintings incorporating led TV animation; It was a great exercise to push the boundaries of each new technology.
Some of your works remind us of Francis Bacon, did his works influence you? What other artists influence you in your career of art?
I went through a period between 2009-2012 trying to capture the feeling of painterly expressionism in a dimensional space. The forms were created from Perspex, chrome and spray-paint. Though the languages to create the works were completely different, the feeling reminded people of 2d painted expressionism like Francis Bacon. For me, Picasso is the master, I will always look up to and admire his lifetime achievements. Picasso is the master of styles. I believe an artist should evolve and change like Picasso.
After centuries of development until today, easel painting seems to have exhausted its possibility in terms of its form and language. Today we all talk about contemporary art, new media, installation etc, what do you think paintings’ future?
When photography was born, the traditional painter had to compete with the picture perfect reality of the photograph. The painter could no longer compete! The painter had to paint what the camera could not capture. This gave birth to new ways of depicting the world like Cubism, Expressionism etc.. Now we have the birth of digital media and the internet.
An artist can communicate and express themselves in a whole new language. For a painter the language of painting has to change. My Dimensional Paintings cannot really be experienced on the internet. The viewer has to see them in reality. As you move around the paintings the figures and forms change shape.
A figure can morph into abstraction, the feeling and meaning can change as you view the work from different angles.
Just as Cubism was created to paint what the photograph could not capture,
I want to paint what the Internet cannot capture.
You start your art career from London streets and never went to an art university or college; Do you consider yourself an ‘outsider’?
I always wanted to be an artist from the age of 5. I have always felt like an outsider.
What do you define art and an artist’s success?
A successful artist will learn to swim in a sea of failures.
What’s your next creative plan for the near future?
I am working towards a solo show in London later in the year at Elms Lesters Painting Rooms, London
How do you balance the relationship between cooperation with gallery and the independence of your creation?
I am very lucky with my relationship with my gallery. They respect my working process and understand my need to experiment and evolve with in my work. They have always encouraged and supported me in all my styles and directions. They are passionate art lovers who believe in my work, which makes for a great working relationship.