THE COMPANY by Yin Wang |
I am a figurative and portrait artist born in Nanjing, China. Having been away from my hometown since I was 18 years old, I have lived in Shanghai and Hong Kong before coming to the UK six years ago. After losing passion for my job as a commercial fashion designer, I decided to reignite my dream of being an artist by first becoming an art student. Currently, I am in my third year of BA fine art at Art Academy London. I primarily make paintings, and occasionally ventures into sculpture and printmaking. As an artist of the Chinese diaspora, my work serves to maintain a connection to my roots. My work explores various aspects of my identity, familial relationships, my connection to my homeland, and my perspective on China from the outside. Furthermore, I imbue my work with significant values, such as the importance of family and love. People are the eternal subjects of my work, and my artistic process revolves around empathy for my subjects. I strive to offer a unique perspective on Chinese people, culture and society from the outside, hoping to evoke a nuanced and thoughtful response from viewers from different communities and social groups, inviting them into something both strange and familiar.
Untitled, Maquette in wax, 2023 Photo credit: Yin Wang |
This work is a reflection of my inner world, which has remained largely concealed during my years away from my family and motherland. The subject depicted in the picture was inspired by a small wax maquette that I created to capture the ephemeral movement of a life model. This particular movement resonated with me due to its sense of loneliness and vulnerability. The shadow-like companions in the picture were inspired by Li Po’s poem 'Drinking Alone With the Moon' from the Tang Dynasty. In the poem, Li relieves his loneliness by drinking with the moon and his own shadow, creating a trio. In my picture, however, the shadows remain more ambiguous, mysterious, and metaphorical, also forming a trio. These two companions are open to interpretation and may represent something different for each viewer. While the overall tone of the piece may seem depressing, it actually centres around 'the company'—whatever form it may take.
By Yin Wang on Saunders Waterford |
Where do you draw inspiration from in your wider practice?
By Yin Wang on Saunders Waterford |
Can you explain the difference between etching and aquatint and how you use these methods in your practice?
Yin Wang receiving her award from Alan Walker, Charman of St Cuthberts Mill and Hester Baldwin from the Gallery at Green & Stone |
Yin Wang won Best Original Print at the Gallery at Green & Stone ‘Works on Paper’ Exhibition 2024 - visit website.