Liu Ye (Contemporary Artist)
Encyclopedia
Liu Ye is a contemporary Chinese
artist
. Liu Ye has stated, “I find that art should not interfere with politics
because I see art as something universal, and not as something emanating from a specific country.” His paintings regularly sell for over US$100,000.
, including books by Hans Christian Andersen
. Liu Ye’s father worked as an author of children’s books, both for the government, and with his own texts. Because of his job, Liu Senior had access to “a library of children’s books from around the world.” Though Liu Senior was a talented writer, he did not illustrate his own books.
While once playing a childhood game, Liu Ye unintentionally injured a friend. Feeling guilty, Liu Ye closed himself in his room. In an effort to cheer up his son, Lui Senior risked punishment to bring home volumes of Christian Andersen’s fairy tale
s. Liu Ye sites these days of self-isolation with Christian Andersen’s stories as the time in which he decided to become an artist. However indirectly, “each of these tales exerted an influence on Liu Ye’s art.”
During this period in history, Mao’s
state-mandated children’s books were likened to “handbooks on good behavior tailored to boy scouts.” For two decades, these books were used for children's education.
He studied abroad in Germany
for four years, adding to his sense of independence from the artistic circles at home. According to Karen Smith, author of "Liu Ye: Temptations", “Liu Ye has always been taken seriously for the quality of his art, for its distinctive vision and content, as opposed to the members of the early avant-garde
in China who were uniformly grouped together for their political stance and ambitions.”
. Liu Ye also frequently incorporated the image of a rabbit-girl Miffy
in his early work.
Liu Ye claims the loneliness and quiet felt in his paintings is related to his own painting style. He works without the help of an assistant, unaccompanied in his studio. Though Liu Ye works alone, he is not without external influences; some of his favorite artists include Lucas Cranach
, Chardin
, Vermeer
and the minimalist movement
. Consistent with his diverse array of influences, Liu Ye has no interest in being labeled as a painter exclusively for Asian audiences. He has said that “Art should be universal, and it is my hope that my art crosses boundaries of all kinds.”
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
. Liu Ye has stated, “I find that art should not interfere with politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
because I see art as something universal, and not as something emanating from a specific country.” His paintings regularly sell for over US$100,000.
Life
Unlike many Chinese children of his generation, Liu Ye was exposed to Western children’s booksChildren's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
, including books by Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
. Liu Ye’s father worked as an author of children’s books, both for the government, and with his own texts. Because of his job, Liu Senior had access to “a library of children’s books from around the world.” Though Liu Senior was a talented writer, he did not illustrate his own books.
While once playing a childhood game, Liu Ye unintentionally injured a friend. Feeling guilty, Liu Ye closed himself in his room. In an effort to cheer up his son, Lui Senior risked punishment to bring home volumes of Christian Andersen’s fairy tale
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
s. Liu Ye sites these days of self-isolation with Christian Andersen’s stories as the time in which he decided to become an artist. However indirectly, “each of these tales exerted an influence on Liu Ye’s art.”
During this period in history, Mao’s
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
state-mandated children’s books were likened to “handbooks on good behavior tailored to boy scouts.” For two decades, these books were used for children's education.
He studied abroad in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for four years, adding to his sense of independence from the artistic circles at home. According to Karen Smith, author of "Liu Ye: Temptations", “Liu Ye has always been taken seriously for the quality of his art, for its distinctive vision and content, as opposed to the members of the early avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
in China who were uniformly grouped together for their political stance and ambitions.”
Early Work
Many of Liu Ye’s early paintings reference MondrianPiet Mondrian
Pieter Cornelis "Piet" Mondriaan, after 1906 Mondrian , was a Dutch painter.He was an important contributor to the De Stijl art movement and group, which was founded by Theo van Doesburg. He evolved a non-representational form which he termed Neo-Plasticism...
. Liu Ye also frequently incorporated the image of a rabbit-girl Miffy
Miffy
Miffy is a small female rabbit in a series of picture books drawn and written by Dutch artist Dick Bruna. Miffy's original Dutch name is Nijntje which stems from a toddler's pronunciation of the word "konijntje" meaning "little rabbit"....
in his early work.
Recent Work
Liu Ye’s more recent paintings often feature a single, female figure framed by a large expanse of color. As stated by Kris Wilton of artinfo.com, “the colors look bright and pure, and the figures, with their wide-spaced eyes, are easy to read.” Liu Ye has quoted Oscar Wilde, stating that “every painting is a self-portrait…The little girls, therefore, are me, but more beautiful.”Liu Ye claims the loneliness and quiet felt in his paintings is related to his own painting style. He works without the help of an assistant, unaccompanied in his studio. Though Liu Ye works alone, he is not without external influences; some of his favorite artists include Lucas Cranach
Lucas Cranach the Elder
Lucas Cranach the Elder , was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving...
, Chardin
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin was an 18th-century French painter. He is considered a master of still life, and is also noted for his genre paintings which depict kitchen maids, children, and domestic activities...
, Vermeer
Johannes Vermeer
Johannes, Jan or Johan Vermeer was a Dutch painter who specialized in exquisite, domestic interior scenes of middle class life. Vermeer was a moderately successful provincial genre painter in his lifetime...
and the minimalist movement
Minimalism
Minimalism describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is set out to expose the essence, essentials or identity of a subject through eliminating all non-essential forms, features or concepts...
. Consistent with his diverse array of influences, Liu Ye has no interest in being labeled as a painter exclusively for Asian audiences. He has said that “Art should be universal, and it is my hope that my art crosses boundaries of all kinds.”