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Introduction

Through his concern for the most insignificant subjects and the pertinence of his narrative framework, not a moment goes by where Yang Jian doesn't use his artistic creation to stir up habitual experiences and the restrictions and stipulations imposed on daily life. At face value, this kind of joking and teasing - both theatrical and humorous at the same time - is diametrically opposed to a great many previous performance methods that related explicitly to Realpolitik. Oftentimes the artist constructs grotesqueness to reach the shore opposite to that of the truth. Either that or he uses randomness and coincidence to unfurl a vigorous, technical rhetoric, whereby he uncovers a logical revolt hidden beneath everyday appearances.

At first glance, Yang Jian's artistic practice seems oriented towards a kind of "technical" rhetoric with regards to emotions or phenomena, when in actual fact it possesses a melancholic, novel-like core, as well as a montage-like attitude that is revealed when his work deals with specific incidents. His artistic output includes video, installations and performance, among other domains.

Yang Jian (b. 1982, Fujian Province, China) received his BFA from the School of Fine Arts, Xiamen University in 2007. From 2009 until 2010, Yang Jian was admitted to the international residency program at the Dutch Royal Academy of Fine Arts (RABK). In 2010 he was awarded funding by the Dutch Niemeijer Fonds Foundation. In 2015, he won the Special Jury Prize of "Huayu Youth Award" at the Fourth Art-Sanya. Recent exhibitions include "Thank You! Have a Nice Day!", Telescope {Artist Studio}, Beijing, China (2015), “ON|OFF: China’s Young Artists in Concept and Practice”, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), Beijing (2013); "Super-Organism - CAFAM Generic Theme Exhibition", CAFA Art Museum (CAFAM), Beijing, China (2011). Yang Jian currently lives and works in Beijing and Nanjing.


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Images
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Yang Jian's Work at "Social Emotion" exhibition site
Are We More Stupid Than Before ( 2013 )
Television, Arcylic
31×31×27 cm

Yang Jian Installation Work
INTERNET OF THINGS (2018)
Installation
Wi-Fi, napa cabbage, Wi-Fi antenna
Dimensions Variable

Yang Jian Sculpture Work
A COMPOSITE LEVIATHAN (2018)
lead, rebar, wire, cement, polyurethane foam
261 ×18.7 ×18.7 cm

Yang Jian Video Work
菜园练习 (2011)
Singel Channel Video with Sound and Coulour
2 Minutes 30 Seconds