Chen Wen Ling

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Biography

Chen Wen Ling (b.1969) from Anxi, China is recognized as one of the top ten contemporary sculptors in the international art industry today, exhibiting in a number of prestigious exhibitions such as Art Basel in Switzerland  and the Shanghai Biennale. Ode to Art is honored to represent Chen Wen Ling since 2007. Chen Wen Ling graduated from Xiamen Academy of Art and Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.

Chen Wen Ling’s sculptural works encompasses many meanings which revolves around the manifestations of extreme humanity and immaterial images in a consumption society. Many of his works are metaphors of the messages he conveys about his view on society. His works are clear to the eyes and often depicts a message deeper than what it seems which leads to audience to a state of awe.

Red Memory Series

The use of bright red colour in presenting the boys depicts not only the symbolic and auspicious colour considered by Chinese traditions but also, a testament of the artist’s fiery attitude towards life.  The Red Boys, naked and free have nothing to hide. Simple and true- a direct communication with nature and a conversation between society and people is what Chen Wen Ling’s works communicate to the audiences. The cheeky expressions and arresting poses is a celebratory call to the audiences-embracing the inner child in every viewer.  The Red Boy series have attracted locals, international audiences, academics and avant-garde critic alike to appreciate them from their own perspectives.

China Scene

In Chen Wen Ling’s latest series of work, Chen Wenling has a change of front on his art concept. He gave full scope to his imagination, borrowed the methods of appropriation, assemblage and translation from post-modern concept. That is, blending and transforming the natural, traditional and modern images, creating a kind of surrealistic and fantastic scene of the so-looked mountain and stone. The fantastic mountains and stones are shaped to ambiguous things subjectively, like melting iceberg, or gigantic deer, also seems like traditional pavilion. The bottom of the sculpture looks like melting ice, while the top of the pavilion is beautifully carved drops. This twisty, fragmentized and unrealistic phantasm reappeared vividly a quiescent pure world and a sense of realistic alienation.  As the light bounces off the smooth stainless steel surface, people would feel that they are in a fantastical and illusion world. 

Happy Life Series

The juxtaposition of "personification" and "hypostatization" is a method acquired by Chen in his exploration of art. He adopts this method nonstop in his series of works so that it multiplies and gains more value, forming a developing momentum propelled by a self-sufficient driving power within.

Awards

2005- InternationalAssociation of Art Critics United States Section, Best Monograph Show and Best Installation in a Museum for Inopportune, Paris, France

2001- CalArts/Alpert Award in the Arts, United States of America

1999- The Venice Biennial International Prize-Golden Lion, Italy

1997- Oribe Awards, Gifu, Japan

1995- Benesse Prize of Transculture Exhibition, 46th Venice Biennale, Italy

Selected Exhibitions

2008- "China: Facing Reality", National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

2008- "Beijing-Athens Contemporary Art From China", Technopolis of the City of Athens, Greece

2007- "Metamorphose" Chen Wen Ling Exhibition, Makii Masaru Fine Arts, Japan

2007- "My Chinese Friends", Gallery Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, Denmark

2007- "The Power of Universt" 798 Asian Art Center, Beijing, China

2007- "Floating: New Generation of Art in China", The National Art Museum of Korea, Seoul,  Korea

2006- "Red Memory" Chen Wen Ling's Solo Exhibition, Ode to Art, Singapore

2006- "Made in China", Padova, Italy

2006- "In the Name of Material" Exhibition of Contemporary Art of Sculpture, HSS Art Centre Shanghai, China

2006- 37th Art Exposition in Basel of Switzerland, Basel, Switzerland

2006- "Hyper design" Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China

2006-"Chinese Art Today", National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

2005- "Ground Reality" Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Seoul, Korea

2005- "Time of Sea" International Contemprary Art Exhibition, Shanghai, China

2004- Solo Exhibition: "Happy Life", Chinese European Art Centre, Xiamen, China

2003- Chinese Sculpture Masterpieces Exhibition of Beijing International Biennale, Beijing, China

2002- 21st China Art Triennial, Guangzhou Art Museum, Guangdong, China

2001- Sculpture Show, Shanghai Young Artists Exhibition, Normal University of Shanghai, China

1991- Chen Wen Ling's Woodcarving Exhibition Xiamen College of Art, Xiamen, China