A display of sculptures made of bronze, marble and wood forms the 2007 Contemporary Sculpture Open Show at the Beijing Exhibition Hall. Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the free show introduces some 100 works of such representative young and middle-aged sculptors as Liu Ruowang, Wang Xiaobei and Zhang Hua.

The contemporary Chinese sculptors lay stress on conceptual content and individuality instead of traditional modeling and technique. Employing various materials, they present rich imagination and deep philosophical thought.

The ongoing exhibition, out of the consideration of the open-air display, selects large works suitable to weather exposure, such as those by Liu Ruowang. Born in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province, Liu gets his inspiration from his ancestors of the Qin Dynasty. The modeling of the terracotta warriors is transformed into the execution of ordinary farmers with similar facial expression and solemn momentum. National spirit is expressed through the monumental feature and the simple color scheme. The faces are red and the clothes are gray, with the standing position resembling a mountain. Some of his works are composed of group images with less individuality, conveying a kind of historical background and inner strength of the nation.

Some participants take current issues as basis of their creation. Meng Dewu's Olympic series delineate the beauty and energy of sport. Wang Xinggang focuses on the theme of environmental protection by portraying the forest and sky. Zhang Hua signals world peace through the topic of flying birds and dreaming girls.

For the young Chinese generation, amusement and hippie style are often endowed in their creation. Post 80s artist Lin Haidong is an example. The image of cars, which are dyed golden color, are piled up one above another in a pyramid design. The face of the cars are replaced by laughing men and the bodies of the vehicles are simplified to bald heads without any detailed presentation. The deformation acts as a mirror satirizing the material worship and spiritual desolation of modern society. The exaggeration and vitality enhance the impact of the work and echo with the feeling of viewers.

Chinese sculpture art stems from the Western realistic style. The 1950s witnessed a surge of open-air sculpture in China under the need of time demand. In recent years, these kind of works spring up and enter the life of ordinary people. Large-scale sculptures can be seen everywhere in public places of the cities. One might notice the bronze sculptures erected in Wangfujing Street, which feature old Beijing scenes, creating a cultural atmosphere in the commercial area.

The latest show, in addition to introducing art into ordinary life, also acts as a platform to bridge the sculptors with collectors. As an import component of the contemporary art market, sculptures are somewhat neglected compared with paintings, yet there is great potential in the field.

Wu Liping

9am-5pm, Nov 22-25. Beijing Exhibition Hall, Xizhimenwai, Xicheng District. 6835-4457. ,

(China Daily 11/14/2007 page20)