About the artwork
This sculpture by Chinese artist Wu Qiong depicts a young couple sitting on top of a polar bear. The couple appears to be embarking on a journey, a theme that is prominent in Wu’s works. To the artist, life is a journey, in which the process is much more significant than the destination itself. The woman has her hand placed on the man’s leg, signifying their physical intimacy as well as the sense of comfort they find in each other, and how they provide assurance and support to face their unknown futures together. The symbol of the bear is important to the Chinese concept of feng shui, as according to this philosophy, a bear represents masculine energies and protection. While the polar bear may be bringing the couple on their journey and protecting them, it is also symbolic of the sense of security the couple finds in each other, and the strength of their love.
About the artist
Wu Qiong was born in Beijing, China in 1981. He graduated from the Beijing Shi Fan University in 2001 and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 2006. Both sculptor and painter, Wu creates art that represents the childhood that he and many others of his generation remembered and in doing so, creates touching and amusing portraits of childhood that are distinctly contemporary in the Chinese art scene. Acclaimed both internationally and locally, Wu Qiong has participated in various international art fairs, including Art Miami, Art Cologne and Bridge Art Fair.
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