Wang Haiyang’s work explores the various states of the subconscious and our twisted relationships with our desires. Faced with his canvases and videos, we are moved not so much to understand or explain them as to let ourselves be carried away by the unbridled imagination of the artist: the bodies transform and metamorphose, while enigmatic images put us face to face with disturbing emotions. It was in fact his psychologist who, during the artist’s studies at the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts, encouraged him to express the depths of his soul and his anxieties through his painting, rather than following academic styles.
This oneiric artist, reminiscent of Dalí or Garouste, has some affinity with the surrealist movement, which, for André Breton, aimed to deepen the dream state and conceive of artistic expression as a pure psychological activity. Indeed, the sky’s the limit for the creations of the unconscious in the fantasy works of Wang Haiyang, as illustrated, for example, by the figure of Freud whose skull opens up to release butterflies.
Wang Haiyang was born in 1984 in the province of Shandong. In 2008, he received his degree from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, where he specialized in painting and engraving. His painting talent was discovered early in his career, and has won him numerous awards. He currently lives and works in Beijing.
1984
Born in Shandong province, China.
2008
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China.
Currently Lives and works in Beijing.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018
Ravage, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Paris, France
2017
By Himself, OCAT, Xi’An, China
2016
New Directions: Wang Haiyang, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
Dynamic Field: Wang Haiyang, Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China
2013
Rhizomes, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Paris, France
2012
The Metamorphosis, White Space Beijing, China
2009
Untitled, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
2008
Boys, Today International Art Gallery, Beijing, China
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018
Summer group show, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Paris, France
2017
China-Art in Movement, The Castle Museum, Annecy, France
Recent Acquisitions, Recent Developments, Si Shang Art Museum, Beijing, China
2016
Turning Point: Contemporary Art in China Since 2000, Minsheng Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Air – The 2nd “Ningbo” International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Ningbo Museum of Art, Zhejiang, China
2015
State of Mind – Painting Chinz Now, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Paris, France Impression of Xinjiang, National Art Museum of China, Beijing
2014
Don’t Look Back : Contemporary paintings in China, Galerie Paris-Beijing, Brussels, Belgium
Impression of Xinjiang, National Art Museum of China, Beijing
2013
The Garden of Forking Paths, OCT-Contemporary Art Terminal, Shanghai, China
Discover the Next Great Master, Winshare Museum, Chengdu, China
2012
Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Australian Cinémathèque, Australia
Shenzhen Independent Animation Biennale, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Ecology Report of Chinese Young Art, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China
Focus on Talents Project Finalist Exhibition, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
The 1st Contemporary Art Biennale, Xinjiang International Exhibition Centre, Xinjiang, China
2011
Chinese Contemporary Prints, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
Spectrum, A4 Contemporary Arts Center, Chengdu, China
2009
Chinese Artist Group Exhibition, Seoul Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
Future-Together, Arario Gallery, Beijing, China
2008
Germinators, China Square Gallery, New York, USA
AWARDS
2012
Focus on Talents Project Award Winner Today Art Museum, Beijing, China New film won Silver Dove 55th DOK Leipzig Film festival, Montreal’s 11th Sommets du cinéma d’animation
Has been selected more than 20 festivals, included Melbourne International film festival, Annecy International animation Film Festival, World Festival of Animated Film-Animafest Zagreb, Fantoche, FESTIVAL TOUS COURTS, International Filmet Festival of Spain…etc.
2010
His first movie won Grand Prix 25th Holland animation festival, has been selected in more than 15 festivals.
Wang Haiyang, Freud, Fish and Butterfly, 2012
Wang Haiyang, Double Fikret, 2016