The Beijing branch of Pace Gallery is currently showing a selection of new works from Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun. Exhibiting in his home city, the painter famous for his smiling self-portraits has included Christian iconography in this latest set of canvases as well as recent work leading the viewer to think about the role of Western influence in China. Is the ubiquitous grin pervading these works laughing at or laughing with the religious symbolism or is it just the Minjun’s signature imagery innocently translated into a new setting? Even more interesting, rounding out the works for The Road are a series of pieces re-appropriating classical Christian paintings like The Annunciation except the main characters are missing leaving empty structures and buildings.
More after the jump…
Discuss Yue Minjun here.
