Qiu Zhijie, c-print, 1994
The Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie, like many other dissidents, had his international breakthrough in the 1990s. By using traditional techniques combined with new technological media, he broke away from the imposed dogmas in his country. In his work he contrasts word and image and blurs the line between fiction and reality. His socially critical viewpoints encourage the viewer to become aware of themselves and the scope of their community.
The cali-photographic artwork ‘Tattoo II’ shows his self-portrait digitally overpainted with the Chinese character ‘Bu’, which means ‘negation’. As a young artist he already researched the impact of symbols on personal identity. And asked the critical question whether individual independence can still be achieved within a socio-political structure consisting only of rules.
– For more works by this artist, contact the gallery. –