Xue Wang
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“I don’t mean to disturb my audience. I hope they can laugh at the images but then pause - and think,” says Xue Wang, a petite and classically pretty Chinese artist, whose work is making great waves in the ‘lowbrow’ art world. The ‘Pop Surrealism’ movement which started in the 1970s has now embraced the ‘lowbrow label’ as a badge of honour. “I don’t see being categorised as a lowbrow artist in any way demeaning. It’s current and fashionable and has its roots in a Californian movement that was hugely influential,” explains Xue. Born in industrial Northern China in 1980 (the year of the mischievous monkey as she points out!) she took a fashion degree in Shenyang and at the age of 22 moved to London to finish her MA, during which time her passion for fashion waned, and her interest in art and drawing was ignited. Having successfully forged a career as a fashion designer (working for names including Marks & Spencer) Xue became increasingly disillusioned with the industry, and its fixation with the bottom line, and she realised that painting was where her true passion lay.
SPOTLIGHT Xue is a product of China's 'One Child' policy which was introduced to control the country's population in 1979. Parents were fined or forced to have abortions for breaking the rule. But the 'One Child' law has left an ageing population and a gender imbalance. This year, the Chinese lawmakers announced they will allow families to have two children.
The new collection, like much of her previous work, displays a fascination with childhood paraphernalia and Victoriana, reflecting nostalgia for a youth long before her own. As a product of China’s ‘One Child’ policy, she says she remembers an isolated, »
AUTUMN2014 FIN e ARTC o LL e CT o R 7
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