Wu Shaoxiang

Wu Shaoxiang ( ; born 1957) is a Chinese sculptor living between Berlin, Beijing and Carinthia, Austria.

Biography Wu Shaoxiang was born in 1957 in Jiangxi Province, China. Having only received ongoing formal education until he was twelve, Wu was sent to work on a farm to lay bricks and saw wood for rafters. It was only when he turned twenty-one that he could he begin his career as a sculptor.

From 1978 to 1982, Wu studied sculpture at the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute, then left to work at the China National Design Association in Beijing for two years. From 1984 to 1987, he pursued postgraduate studies under the sculptor Professor Zheng Ke, at the Central Academy of Arts and Design, now the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. After graduating with a master's degree, he taught as a lecturer at the academy.

An important figure in China's New-Wave art movement, Wu won the first scholarship awarded by the city of Beijing, and was named one of the "Ten Most Influential Chinese Avant-Garde Artists" by Fine Arts of China (the most important magazine at the time for modern art published in China). The purpose behind the New-Wave group was to review traditional Chinese art through courageous experimentation in the face of the ever-increasing influence of Western culture, in order to bring Chinese art to the modern world. In 1988, the National Art Museum of China organized its first major solo exhibition, and in the same year, he was the first modern Chinese artist to be allowed to place a sculpture - "Meditation" - in a public space in Europe. On June 6, 1989, two days after the massacre on Tiananmen Square, he was able to leave China with the help of the Austrian Embassy. He settled in Austria with his wife Jiang Shuo, who is also a sculptor, and their son. In 1991, he created "Apple", his first sculpture made entirely of coins. It was included in the Guinness World Records Book 1995 and is now in the Austrian National Bank. He obtained Austrian citizenship in 1993 and published a book of his sculptures since his arrival in Europe. He exhibited at this time in Europe and Asia. After cancer treatment in 1996 he built a new studio in Carinthia with his wife Jiang Shuo and wrote the autobiographical novel "The Shadow of the Sun". In 2006, he set up a studio in Beijing, and later he published "Art of Sculpture", which became a textbook for all Chinese universities. He is a visiting professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Fu Dan University in Shanghai since 2008. Due to its increasing popularity, 2012 saw the opening of a studio in Berlin. Alternating Wu Shaoxiang lives today in Austria, Berlin and Beijing. 2017 he became a visiting professor at Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts. His works are also widely collected by museums and prestigious institutions worldwide.

Early works The artist's work first caught the attention of the public through several modern abstract sculptures, which were commissioned for several locations, including a Beijing park, the Theatre of the Chinese Association of the Arts, and the Central Academy of Science. In his early stage as a sculptor, Wu was influenced by Western modernism. His "Outcry Series" created during the mid-1980s resembled the stylistic representation of sculptors such as Arp and Brâncuși, as well as Duchampe's his ironic sculptures and the artistic method of Chinese impressionism. This series was noted at the time for their abstract presentation of the female body, and representation of sexual consciousness. It was made mainly of cast copper, which was polished to diminish the strength of the material, creating a smooth and luminous tactile experience. Such work indicated the lack of exploration in sexual themes in China, establishing Wu as an artistic pioneer at that time.

Wu was also an active participant in the Chinese modern art circle. He wanted to provide greater international exposure to Chinese art, and avidly explored and incorporated contemporary ideas in his works. In this sense, he was much bolder compared to his more conservative and conventional contemporaries who were hesitant in addressing sexual themes. As a result, he helped to begin a new chapter in modern Chinese art history. In doing so, he was indicating that enterprises such as the MoMA were increasingly driven by business, carrying out nationwide publicity campaigns and reproducing famous works on gift items to sell them in museum shops. In fact, they had reduced artistic images to commercial images.

In his latest work, the "Walking Wealth" series, Wu continues to explore the theme of wealth and modern consumer culture, though this time using a new form of innovative sculptural representation - life-sized human figures made out of bronze-cast US dollar notes. As a postmodernist he had to deconstruct his "tradition" or reinterpret the "tradition" of his artistic education. Selecting the historical masterpieces of Western art - which are familiar to most educated Westerners - he could express the themes of his metaphorical messages in a more accessible way. With their unique body language and presentation, these anonymous figures are amusing commentaries on mankind's seemingly immense hunger for monetary fulfillment. In his worlds: "Inventions can free people from physical restrictions, but also lead to unexpected new restrictions. Currency is like this: It was invented to facilitate trade, but it came to dominate people's behavior and reasoning in the end. Coins can be used as a kind of normal material such as stone, wood or metal to make sculptures". The idea of money - illustrated by the coins and banknotes he uses - is in his mind completely incompatible with the actual value of the art.

The exact interpretation of his works, however, is still unclear and fuzzy, probably intentionally. In the history of sculpture, he is the first to use coins exclusively and persistently to make sculptures, going beyond the traditional definition of this art. The raw material used is material substance, but also an art form in itself.

Completed in 2007, his sculpture I Love M depicts a bust of Chairman Mao mounted on a plinth with the McDonald's logo. At the same time as referencing his childhood during the Cultural Revolution, I Love M is a commentary on the pervasiveness of capitalism and the way political figures become symbols over time.

Selected solo exhibitions Source: Time Meteorite: Wu Shaoxiang Sculpture Works, Art Tianjin, Beijing Park, Tianjin, China, 2017 Wu Shaoxiang, 30 years Exploration on the Art of Sculpture, Jiangxi Art Museum, Nanchang, China, 2016 Desire Scenery - Retrospective, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, China, 2015 Desire Scenery - Retrospective, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China, 2015 Invisible Hand , together with Jiang Shuo, Linda Art Centre, 798, Beijing, China, 2015 Dolls and Masks, National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2014 Red VS Green, together with Jiang Shuo, Werner Berg Museum, Bleiburg, Austria, 2014 Dolls and Masks, together with Jiang Shuo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Singapore, 2014 Going for The Money, together with Jiang Shuo, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 2014 Camouflage, together with Jiang Shuo, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 2013 Going Forward! Going for Money!, Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, Taiwan, 2012 Sculpture from China, Marsvinsholms skulpturpark, Sweden, 2011 This Land so rich in Beauty, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 2011 Let's talk about money, Z-Art Centre, Shanghai, China, 2010 Going Forward! Going for Money!, together with Jiang Shuo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Singapore, 2010 New Age Cadre, White 8 Gallery, Vienna, Austria, 2010 Tao Hua yuan, 798 Linda Gallery, Beijing, China, 2009 Paradise Fruits, Art Seasons, Zurich, Switzerland, 2008 Walking Wealth, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 2008 Jiang Shuo and Wu Shaoxiang Exhibition at Songzhuang Museum, Beijing, China, 2007 Chase, Linda Gallery, Singapore, 2006 Chase, Linda Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2006 Sculptures and Paintings, Schloss Gabelhofen, Fohnsdorf, Austria, 2003 Coining MoMA, Plum Blossoms Gallery, New York City, USA, 2001 Wu Shaoxiang and Jiang Shuo, Schloss Wolfsberg, Wolfsberg, Austria, 2001 Coining, AAI Gallery, Vienna, Austria, 2001 Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Synarte, Klagenfurt, Austria, 2000 Wu Shaoxiang, Gallery Dida, Graz, Austria, 1999 Red Memory, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 1999 Sculptures and Paintings, Salzburg Art Fair, Salzburg, Austria, 1999 Wu Shaoxiang, Gallery Daghofer, Leoben, Austria, 1998 Blander and Wu Shaoxiang, Funda Gallery, St.Veit/GL, Austria, 1998 Wu Shaoxiang and Jiang Shuo, Gallery Zentrum, Graz, Austria, 1997 Wu Shaoxiang and Jiang Shuo, Shellanda Company, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997 Sculptor, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong, 1996 Wu Shaoxiang-New Works, Gallery Kolly, Graz, Austria, 1996 The Art of Coining, Hanart Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan, 1995 Recent Sculptures, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 1994 Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Zentrum, Graz, Austria, 1993 Sculptures and Paintings, Europe House, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1993 Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Nemenz, Judenberg, Austria, 1992 Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Akzent K, Stuttgart, Germany, 1991 Sculptures, Gallery d' Art Teroema, Florence, Italy, 1991 Apple, Messe Palast, Vienna, Austria, 1991 Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Burg Montendorf, Salzburg, Austria, 1991 Sculptures and Paintings, Raiffeisen Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1991 Joint exhibition with Jiang Shuo, Culture House, Knittelfeld, Austria, 1991 Sculptures and Paintings, City Hall Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1990 Dream, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1988 Sculptures, Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China, 1987 Two and Three Dimension, joined by Chen Xiaoyu, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China, 1985

Group exhibitions Source: Chinese Dreams: Yi Kai and Wu Shaoxiang, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong, 2018 Redefining the City with Context • Beyond the Wall: Xi'an Contemporary Art Exhibition 2018, Xi'an Art Museum, Xi'an, China, 2018 Money in Art, Kunst im Traklhaus, Salzburg, Austria, 2018 Insight, Pingshan International Sculpture Exhibition, Shenzhen, China, 2018 Art Basel, Presented by Alisan Fine Art Gallery, Hong Kong, 2018 Art Stage Singapore, Presented by Linda Gallery, Singapore, 2018 Art & Antique Vienna, Vienna, Austria Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2018 Fair for Art Vienna, Vienna, Austria Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2018 Art & Antique Residenz Salzburg (March and August), Salzburg, Austria, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department Art & Antique, 2018 Art Vienna, Leopold Museum, Vienna, Austria Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2017 Art & Antique Residenz Salzburg (March and August), Salzburg, Austria, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department Art & Antique, 2017 Art & Antique Vienna, Vienna, Austria Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2017 Contemporary Chinese Art, Vienna, Austria Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2017 Art & Antique Hofburg Vienna, Vienna, Austria Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2017 Art & Antique Residence Salzburg (March and August), Salzburg, Austria, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2016 Art Miami New York, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2016 2015 Art Salzburg, Austria, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2015 Olympia Art Fair, Olympia, London, England, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department 2015 Art & Antique Residenz Salzburg (March and August), Salzburg, Austria, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2015 20 years Schütz Fine Art, Schütz Fine Art, Vienna, Austria, 2015 Art & Antique Hofburg Vienna, Austria, Schütz Fine Art-Chinese Department, 2015 Art Landing Singapore, Presented by Linda Gallery, Singapore, 2014 Da Xiang You xin - Contemporary Chinese Sculpture Today, Songzhuan Art Centre, Beijing, China, 2013 Art Beijing, Agriculture Exhibition Hall, Beijing, China, Linda Gallery, 2013 Art Beijing, Agriculture Exhibition Hall, Beijing, China, Linda Gallery, 2012 Art Taipei, Taiwan, Linda Gallery, 2012 ART Beijing, Agriculture Exhibition Hall, Beijing, China, Linda Gallery, 2011 International Gallery Exposition, China World Trade Centre, Beijing, China, presented by Linda Gallery, 2010 Greeting with their Heart and Blood, 798 Linda Art Centre, Beijing, China, 2010 ART Santa Fe, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, Plum Blossoms Gallery, 2009 Singapore Art Fair, Singapore, Linda Gallery, 2009 ART Singapore, SUNTEC Singapore, Singapore, Linda Gallery, 2008 Shanghai Art Fair 2007, Shanghai, China, 2007 ARTSingapore 2007, The Contemporary Asian Art Fair, Singapore, 2007 Art Beijing 2007, Beijing, China, 2007 China International Gallery Exposition 2007, Beijing, China, 2007 ArtSingapore 2006, Singapore, 2006 The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2003 Sculptures, Elizabeth Weiner Fine Art Gallery, Santa Monica, California, USA, 2003 The International Asian Art Fair, Lincoln Art Centre, New York, USA, 2002 Configurations, Plum Blossoms Gallery, New York, Hong Kong, 2002 International Biennial of Contemporary Art Austria, Hüttenberg, Austria, 2002 The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2001 The International Pavilion of Palm Beach, Art Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 2001 Salon de Mars, Geneva, Switzerland, 2001 Chinese Figure, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, 2000 The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2000 The 20th Century Art, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2000 The International Contemporary Art Fair, Los Angeles, USA, 1999 Goedhuis Contemporary, London, United Kingdom, 2000 The International Contemporary Art Fair, Palace Degli Affari, Florence, Italy, 1998 Contemporary Austrian Painter, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong, 1998 The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 1997 Contemporary Austrian Painter, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong, 1997 Table for Two, LKF Gallery, Hong Kong, 1996 The Collector's View, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, 1996 Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 1995 Budapest Art Expo, Budapest, Hungary, 1995 New Trends Art Hong Kong, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 1994 Tresors Singapore, World Trade Centre, Singapore, 1994 Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, presented by Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 1994 The Spirit of Times, Gallery Hinteregger, St. Pölten, Austria, 1993 Packaged Art, Bündner Art Museum, Chur, Switzerland, 1990 International Art Exhibition, Stadgarden Gallery, Norden, Germany, 1990 Avant-garde China, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1989 New Expressionism in China, China National History Museum, Beijing, China, 1989 30 Years The Central Academy of Arts & Design, Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China, 1988 Works by Young Beijing Artist, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1987 Contemporary Chinese Fine Art, Toronto Exhibition Hall, Toronto, Canada, 1987 Excellent Chinese Urban Sculptures, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1987 Tradition and Modern - New Sculptures, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1987 National Sculpture Exhibition, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1986 New Works from Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute, Jingdezhen, 1982 Ceramics Museum, Jingdezhen, China, 1982 Jiang Xi Province Art Exhibition, Jiang Xi Revolution Museum, Nanchang, China, 1981 National Art Academy's Drawing Exhibition, China Art Academy, Hangzhou, China, 1981

Selected works

Torso from the Louvre, bronze, 139 x 58 x 34 cm, Schütz Fine Art - Chinese Department, Vienna, Austria, 2018 Naked Nike, bronze and stainless steel, 178 x 60 x 75 cm, Schütz Fine Art - Chinese Department, Vienna, Austria, 2016 Fruits of Paradise, patinated bronze, 92 x 111 x 60 cm, Schütz Fine Art - Chinese Department, Vienna, Austria, 2008. Collaboration with Jiang Shuo Coining MoMA- Brâncuși, Tree, H.M.Z. Foundation, Fohnsdo, 2003 Coining MOMA-Maillol. Shilling coins, 95 x 58 x 43 cm. 2001. Schütz Fine Art - Chinese Department, Vienna, Austria, 2001-2006 Head From British Museum, Bowl, Torso, Cyber Club, Hong Kong, 2003 Family III (fountain), Singulus, Umag, Croatia, 2003 Harmonious (fountain), Ebental District Government, Ebenthal, Austria, 2002 Harmonious (fountain), Wolkensberg Foundation, Klagenfurt, Austria, 2002 Clouds VI, Celebrity Cruises, Miami, United States, 2002 Torso From Louvre, RBB Bank Spittal, Spittal an der Drau, Austria, 2002 Deng Xiaoping Souvenir Badge, Wadsworth Collection, New York, United States, 2001 Patrick, Schloss Pakein, Grafenstein, Austria, 2001 Pomegrante, Barmherzigen Bruder Hospital, St. Veit, Austria, 2001 Circulate, Volksbank Karnten Sud, Klagenfurt, Austria, 2001 Fountain, Villa Ried, St.Veit, Austria, 2000 Mao, Venus From British Museum, Crow Art Museum, Dallas, United States, 1999 Head From Gugenheim, Kärnten State Government, Carinthia, Austria, 1999 Man On Peach, Hypo Landesbank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1999 Goddess, Leoben City Government, Leoben, Austria, 1998 Venus, RBB Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1998 Cloud, Villa Borovnik, Ferlach, Austria, 1998 Goddess, Beijing Silver Tower, Beijing, China, 1998 The Moon, LKH 2000 Sculpture Park, Karnten State Government, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997 Gentle Breath, Björn Borg Collection, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997 Coin, Control Bank, Vienna, Austria, 1997 Venus, RBB Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997 Sepe, State Icehockey Hall, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997 Family (fountain), Starmann Company, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1996 Enjoyable (fountain), County Attendant Centre, County Government, Moosburg, Austria, 1996 Torso, Schwarzneger Art collection, Los Angeles, United States, 1996 Winged Source (fountain), Ford Sintsching, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1995 Banana, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, 1995 The Moon, Renaissance Hotel, Hong Kong, 1995 The Great Venus of 20th Century, New World Centre, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 1995 Gentle Breath, New World Hotel, Shenzhen, China, 1995 Harmonius, italian marmor, 46 x 56 x 15 cm, Schütz Fine Art - Chinese Department, Vienna, Austria, 1994 The Seed of Jade, RBB Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1994 The Great Venus of 20th Century, Wing on Art Collection St. Paul, De Veuce, France, 1994 Head, Klagenfurt City Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1994 Inner Movement, DAF Aichwalder, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1993 Flutist, House Hinteregger, St. Pölten, Austria, 1993 Turning Figure, City Government, St.Veit/Glan, Austria, 1993 Window, Raiffeisen Lands Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1993 Hand (Fountain), Köck Villa, Velden, Austria, 1992 Telephon, Gallery Akzent K, Stuttgart, Germany, 1992 Apple, National Bank, Vienna, Austria, 1991 Sitting Girl, Treibach Sport Centre, Treibach, Austria, 1991 Heavenly Dog, Hardy Collection Museum, Pörtschach, Austria, 1991 Turning Figure, Karnten State Culture Council, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1991 Gentle Breath, Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Vienna, Austria, 1990 Dancing Spirit, Stroh Centre, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1990 Family (fountain), local government, St Veit, Austria, 1989 Victory, The Revolution Monument, Shijiazhuang City, Shijiazhuang, China, 1988 City Symbol Sculpture, Luzhu City, China, 1988 Meditation, Europe Sculpture Park, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1988 The Four Feelings, China Association of letters and Arts, Beijing, China, 1987 The See of Knowledge, Central University of Finance, Beijing, China, 1987 Masks, Beijing International Hotel, Beijing, China, 1987 Bath, The Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China, 1987 Spring, Bin River Park, Beijing City Government, Beijing, China, 1986