About The Artist

Chen Wen Ling (b.1969 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China) 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. Chen Wen Ling graduated from Xiamen Academy of Art where he studied in the sculpture department and followed by Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Currently he works and lives in Beijing as a professional artist.

Critique

Article: Red Memory 

Peng De, ART&DESIGN,Volume118, 2003. 
Peng De is a recognized Chinese Art Critic and also a Professor at Xi An Academy of Art

Red is the colour in fashion - from the Red Devil Cheer Team in South Korea to the usual red uniforms of the European football teams and the various symbols in China. Throughout Chinese history, red has been a symbolic and auspicious colour. Chen wants to express the tension of money, power, anxiety, fear and cruelty in the adult world. In this Red Boys series, he expresses the dreams, remembrance and nostalgia of our innocent childhood and questions the culture of adults. 

The Red Boys are innocent and pure, healthy and full of vitality. It is well known that the visual arts of the late twentieth century, whether in art, cinema or three-dimensional cartoon pictures of computer games are full of violence, self doubt and pity. Chen's Red Boys resemble lotuses growing out of the mud, satisfying the craving for a new trend of avant garde art - where exploration of our human nature provides hope rather than to act as a weapon of criticism. His works attract locals,international audiences, academics and avant-garde critic alike to appreciate them from their own perspectives. 

Chen's series of the Red Boys, entitled Red Memory, has various meanings and nuances for modern art viewers. They may be reminded of a newborn baby which symbolizes the innocence of human heart in classical culture, without any feelings of ordinariness. They may relate to the works of the Red Boy in one of the great Chinese novels: 'The Journey to the West (Xi You Ji), but without the feeling of an evil spirit looming over them.

They may be reminded of the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution, without a feeling of cruelty. They may be reminded of war fires of the past in strategically important China, without any feelings of fear. Those who know Chen may link the Red Boys to a harrowing experience - in 1996, there was an astonishing report on the newspaper of Xiamen daily, entitled "Rare and Courageous Self Defense". It was reported that a couple was robbed at the beach. The man courageously defended himself and the woman and was stabbed dozens of times in the process. Two main arteries of his wrists were cut open. His body was soaked with blood. It was the bloodiest case in local criminal history. The article described the heroic action of the young man who survived the attack in detail. He was no other than Mr Chen Wenling. Despite this, Chen shows no traces of hatred in his Red Memory series.

Modern art emphasizes the concept of a piece and often creates a style of too many concepts at play. In contrast, Chen's works are simple and true. He does not deliberately create concepts. The naked bodies have nothing to hide. What is left is a direct communication with nature and a conversation between society and the people. The facial expressions and gestures of the Red Boys are properly exaggerated to enhance communicative effects. This series of works provides respite from the notion of there being too many concepts. 

Exhibitions

2017
“Graces of My Heart”-Chen Wenling Solo Exhibition, Whitebox Art Center, Beijing  China
“Another Realm”- Chen Wenling Solo Exhibition, Zhong Gallery Beijing  China

2016
“Everything is awesome”Large outdoor Exhibition  Shunyi international flower garden Beijing China

2014
“The Community- Chen Wenling’s New Works, Pyo Gallery  Seoul  Korea

2012
“Exotic Landscapes – PIN Gallery Beijing,  China 

2011 
"Searching for Identity" - Hong Kong

2010
"What You See Is Real" - Chen Wenling Solo Exhibition ODE TO ART , Singapore
"The Suspense"  - Today's Art Museum Beijing, China

2009
"Emergency Exit - Joy Art Beijing, China

2008
"China: Facing Reality", National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China
"Beijing-Athens Contemporary Art From China", Technopolis of the City of Athens, Greece

2007
"Metamorphose" Chen Wen Ling Exhibition, Makii Masaru Fine Arts, Japan
"My Chinese Friends", Gallery Susanne Ottesen, Copenhagen, Denmark
"The Power of Universt" 798 Asian Art Center, Beijing, China
"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
"Made in China", Padova, Italy
"In theName of Material" Exhibition of Contemporary Art of Sculpture, HSS Art Centre Shanghai, China
37th Art Exposition in Basel of Switzerland, Basel, Switzerland
"Hyperdesign" Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
"Chinese Art Today", National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China

2005
"Ground Reality" Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition, Seoul, Korea
"Time of Sea" International Contemprary Art Exhibition, Shanghai, China
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

Videos

Mauro Perucchetti: Life, Inspiration and Hip Pop Art
Mauro Perucchetti, Chen Wen Ling, Ren Si Hong
Delve into the thinkings of Italian sculptor Mauro Perucchetti and discover what lies behind his emblematic Jelly Babies, the inspiration to his mediums, and his musings on life as an artist.

Qin Feng
Various Artists
Internationally renowned and critically acclaimed contemporary Ink artist, Qin Feng, expounds on the cultural relevance, philosophies behind and major achievements of his art. Steeped in cultural polars and a medley of styles and mediums, watch the artist delve into the intricacies of his complex work, and what they stand for in the times to come.

Chen Wenling on Little Red Art
Chen Wen Ling

Read

Chen Wen Ling
China Scene, Red Memory

Following Chen's first stage of sculptures came series such as "Happy Life", "Valiant Struggle" and now more recently, "China Scene": a landscape series of sculptures which he has been working on for the past 4 years.

Chen Wen Ling
What You See Is Real

Ode To Art proudly presents Chen Wenling, one of the most significant figures in the new generation of Chinese contemporary art. Considered one of China's top ten contemporary sculptors, the exhibition "What You See Is Real" showcases his latest works.

Wang Xing Gang, Ren Si Hong, Chen Wen Ling, Gao Xiao Wu
Songs of Sculptors

A collection of works by artists who tell tales through their art, both the subtle and the overt.

Chen Wen Ling
Play With Me

Chen's Red Boy look like a lotus growing out of mud, satisfying viewers cravings for a new trend of avant garde art, ie. to make a vehicle of the construction of human nature rather than the weapon of criticism of human nature.