CHEN WEI

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Chen was born in Zhejiang Province, China in 1980. He graduated from Communication University of Zhejiang in 2002. Mainly focused on photography, Chen is a prominent figure of new generation of artists in China. Chen’s works are not snapshots, but instead are meticulously staged, set and photographed in studios. Through his art, he aims to reveal the anxiety towards various social issues of today’s Chinese society and the hope towards the future which includes himself. Perhaps for this reason, even though the scenery of the city appears to be casual at first glance is transformed into a poetic quality that resembles desolate movie scene. Chen is also highly regarded for his skills in other mediums such as his installations of LED light boxes as sculpture. His works have been featured in international exhibitions as well as art museums throughout China and abroad, including “Gwangju Biennale 2018” (Seoul, 2018).
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CHEN WEI
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Year: 2019
Medium: laser print, LED light box
Dimensions: 76.7 x 93 x 13 cm (30 1/4 x 36 1/2 x 5 in.)
Acquired from Ota Fine Arts, 2022
As the title suggests, numerous glass bottle fragments are scattered on the rain-soaked street. This is perhaps downtown at night. The reflection of the neon signs on the puddles appears to be a painting sprinkled with vivid color paints. This work ingeniously captures the quiet yet frantic-tense atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of a back alley. This is also a powerful work that allows the viewers to sentimentally aware of the violence of a place filled with broken glass from a safe distance. To capture this realistic scene, Chen’s works are photographed in a studio similar to cinematic productions. The technique is called “constructed photography” or “setup” photography, an attitude contradicting the concepts of street snapshots or straight photography. It can also be considered as a contemporary offshoot of the high-contextual photographic expression with a strong awareness of the art history of Jeff Wall and others who advocated the Vancouver School.
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