Lot 71

Acquired directly from the Artist
Private collection, Melbourne

"At first I got inspiration for my Hero Series from a photo showing me in army uniform. My original plan was rather simple. I just wanted to present me as a hero. I began with clay figurines, then made porcelain figurines, and finally, oils. Gradually, I came to treat more subjects than my personal image in army uniform – I presented people of all social walks.

People who were born in 1950s and 1960s have lived through the Red Era and heroes like Lei Feng, Huang Jiguang and Dong Cunrui have become their enduring memory. My creation of the series, in fact, is exploration of the people's memory of that time. My works will revive their memory of heroes and thus start an interaction and communication between my works and their viewers. It is communication of people living in different times and places." (The Artist)