Cai Zhi Song

Biography

Born in 1972 Shenyang Liaoning Province in China, Cai Zhi Song graduated from the Sculpture Department of Central Academy of Fine Arts,Beijing. Gaining international recognition with his powerful sculpture works,Cai Zhi Song was the first Chinese artist to win the prestigious Taylor prize at Paris Autumn Salon in Eiffel-Branly. The Autumn Salon which was established in 1903 has had famous artists who participated, namely Matisse, Renoir, Rodin and many more.

Cai Zhi Song’s great technical skills and inventiveness to take sculptural inspirations from the Qin and Han dynasties allowed him to create and transform historically endowed entities into new significant masterpieces.His attention to details often impresses the viewers as he creates each figure’s ornate hairstyles with thin wires, making it look so real. The figures in his works often convey the mourning of losses historically and culturally however, they also often convey and remind us of the hardships of life which evokes feelings that every viewer can closely relate to.

Cai Zhi Song was one of the five artists elected to attend Venice Biennale 2011 representing the Chinese Pavilion where his most recent creation entitled “Cloud” was displayed in the art festival. The automatic rise and fall movement of the clouds which is controlled and determined by the temperature and the weather variations of the surrounding made a breakthrough in the  experiences that one can get from viewing a sculpture artwork. Visitors can walk through freely between the clouds, feeling a sense of Zen and calmness as if one is on in the sky.

Motherland

Cai Zhi Song's latest series ofworks-"Motherland"- not only shows his fascination with ancient Chinese culture but also addresses the dangers and consequences of cultural erosion in the face of today's increasing globalization. An attempt to counteract this development, his artwork attempts to establish an indigenous form of contemporary art.

Created with great technical skill and inventiveness, Cai Zhi Song's impressive sculptures derive their inspiration from the sculptures of the Qin (221-206 B.C.) and Han Dynasties (206/202 B.C. -220). Taking empirical figures, servants and warriors as his models, he uses modern techniques and materials to transform historically endowed entities into an entirely new significance and actuality. Out of glass-fibre reinforced resin and thin sheets of metal Cai Zhi Song creates figures that capture the viewer's imagination and achieve a timeless beauty. Intricate surface detail, such as the figures' ornate hairstyles created out of thin wires, contrast with the simple, clear shapes and poses of his sculptures. Although impressive in size,the use of high-tech material makes the figures seem amazingly light. 

Although muscular, the figures' muscles do not overemphasize the physique, but instead the figure's outline and shape remain smooth and clear. The power of these figures communicates itself through their large heads and limbs. Their poses of humiliation and suppression contrast with their size and implied strength, while the nakedness of the figures further emphasizes their vulnerability.

Selected Exhibitions 

Awards