WHAT

Acclaimed Chinese artist Yue Minjun’s first collaboration with the gallery, the exhibition sees the artist’s remarkable return after a 10-year hiatus. In addition to his iconic ‘Laughter’ series that audiences will no doubt be familiar with, a new ‘Flower’ series is also presented. Inspired by his extended stay in Yunnan province in 2020, the series spells a comeback for the artist who felt compelled to create these new works during the pandemic.

WHY
As one of the most renowned contemporary Chinese artists known for portraying exaggerated smiley faces, Yue was a pioneer of the Cynical Realism movement in the 1990s. With the intense visual impact of smiley faces conveying the artist’s questioning attitude, Yue was able to capture the imagination of the international art world. Now with his new series, he once again challenges his audience. While flowers as symbols of beauty can be likened to the smiling faces of plants, he has now ‘planted’ them on faces of people, tempting us to guess the mysterious expressions and emotions of those whose faces the flowers hide.