Liu Wei

Liu Wei was born on 1972 in Beijing, China. He lives and works in Beijing, China. Liu Wei's practice is uniquely varied. Working in video, installation, drawing, sculpture, and painting, there is no stylistic tendency which ties his work together. Rather Liu perceives the artist's function as a responsibility of unmitigated, uncensored expression, tied to neither ideology nor form. Throughout Liu's work lies an engagement with peripheral identity in the context of wider culture; his works often describe a sentiment of excess, corruption, and aggression reflective of cultural anxiety. Liu's sculpture Indigestion II is a monumental poo. Spanning two meters, it's a man-sized statement of rejection. Crafted with comic exaggeration, Liu's turd is both repulsive and compelling; leaving no detail to the imagination, Liu offers 'too much information' in the details. On closer inspection, half digested kernels emerge as hundreds of toy soldiers, spilling forth in an unmistakable sentiment of protest.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS-

2006 * The 4th Seoul International Media Art Biennale, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea * CHINAJAPANKOREA, Art from Japan, China and Korea, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaodengo

2005 * 51 Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy * Mahjong, Bern, Switzerland * First Nanjing Triennial, Nanjing, China

2004 * Shanghai Biennale techniques of the visible, Shanghai, China * Exhibitions between Past and Future: New Photography and Video from China * International Center of Photography, Asia Society, New York City, United States * Regeneration Charles Cowles Gallery, New York City, United States

2003 * Open sky Duolun Museum of Art Shanghai, China * The fifth system, public art in the age of "post-planning" Shenzhen, China * Hello, comrade Mingong, Today Museum of Art Beijing, China * Double time, China academy of fine arts, Hangzhou * Second hand reality, Today Museum of Art Beijing, China * Refine 798, 798, Beijing, China

2002 * The First Guangzhou Triennial, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China * Mirage, Godot Art Museum, Suzhou Art Museum, Suzhou, China * Everyday Attitude, An Exhibition of Chinese Photo-Based Arts, Pingyao, Shanxi, China * Too Much Flavour, 3H Art Center, Shanghai, China; Avant-garde@Hakaren, Singapore

2001 * Post-Sensibility: Spree, Beijing Film Academy, Beijing, China * Non-linear Narrative, Gallery of National Academy of Fine Arts, Hangzhou, China * Mantic Ecstasy, Impression Gallery, Hangzhou; Bizart Art Center, Shanghai; Loft New Media Art Space, Beijing, China * 16th Asian International Art Exhibition, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China

2000 * "Home?" Contemporary Art Project, Yuexing Furniture Warehouse, Shanghai, China

1999 * Art for Sale, Shanghai Plaza, Shanghai, China * Beijing in London, Institute of Contemporary Art, London * Post-sensibility: Alien Bodies and Delusion, Shaoyaoju, Beijing, China

Conclusions: Liu Wei had already established his own style and the impact of the work had won him a strong reputation in Chinese art circles.

About the Author:

Liu Wei was born on 1972 in Beijing, China. He lives and works in Beijing, China. Liu Wei's practice is uniquely varied. Working in video, installation, drawing, sculpture, and painting, there is no stylistic tendency which ties his work together. Rather Liu perceives the artist's function as a responsibility of unmitigated, uncensored expression, tied to neither ideology nor form.