Jiang Shuo
Chinese Red Cat 1
62x56x25cm
Bronze, lacquer & Cotton
Unique Piece
2013

"Artist: Jiang Shuo, Title: Chinese Red Cat 1, Dimension: 62x56x25cm, Media:Bronze lacquer & Cotton, Edition: Unique Piece, Year:2013

Jiang Shou __ (b 1958)
Born in Beijing in 1958, Jiang Shou is widely recognized as a highly acclaimed and accomplished sculptor in the contemporary art scene. She studied sculpture at the Central Academy of Arts and Design from 1978 to 1982, now the Academy of Fine Arts under Tsinghu University, Beijing. She studied under the sculptor Professor Zheng Ke for three years, whereby through her creativity, talent and passion, she became the first sculptress in China to complete a post-graduate degree.
The trademark figure amongst Jiang ShuoÕs sculptures is noticeably the howling child-like guard adorn with a bluish-black Ôred guardÕ uniform. These sculptures are instantly recognizable by their gaping mouth and non descript faces, a reference to that tumultuous time in ChinaÕs history. The featureless face guard with an opened mouth shouting slogans is JiangÕs sarcastic illustration of the blind worshippers of Maoism during MaoÕs reign. Jiang portrays the laziness of the guard who does nothing but worshipping the ruler.
Using the red guard theme as a focus point, she juxtaposes the history of the cultural revolution with the observations on the state of contemporary society. The language and manner of these sculptures are derived from her own first hand personal experience of the cultural revolution, as well as her observations on the growing rationalization of contemporary thoughts. By incorporating Ômodern dayÕ elements and ideas from pop culture, Jiang Shou has ingeniously resurrected an old forgotten icon and adapted it into our modern times
Through humorous, ironic remarks and metaphoric symbolism that characterised Jiang ShouÕs sculpture, this further heighten the depth, ideological and philosophical implication of her works
Jiang has widely exhibited her sculptures around the world, including Austria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Switzerland. While many of her works are sold through galleries and at auctions in Beijing, Hong Kong, and New York, a large number of them are also included in major private or museum collections.
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