LIU YE (B. 1964)

Preeminent Chinese contemporary artist Liu Ye touches the hearts of countless viewers with the sincerity of his fairytale-like imageries. Seemingly naive, they often tell a much more sophisticated parable. Chorus is an early work that contains many iconic elements in Liu Ye's visual language. Arranged in two straight rows, the choir girls do not seem to convey any emotions. This configuration exudes a sense of mathematical beauty. It is easy to surmise that Piet Mondrian is one of the most important inspirations for Liu Ye. This allusion to Mondrian extends to the use of primary colours red, blue, yellow, and green in the painting. These vibrant hues follow the rhythmic patterns of the choir girls arrangement. Viewers can almost hear the harmonious chords projecting from the painting.

Liu Ye's father was a playwright. Growing up steeped in the theatrical discipline, he is naturally adept in capturing the dramatic tension between people, and the sense of theatre in his works is palpable. A master of classical painting techniques, Liu Ye skilfully manipulates light sources from outside of the picture. By shining a spotlight from the front, ambiguous shadows are cast on the wings of the choir girls. Are they innocent angels or puppets that have lost their individualities? Behind this deceiving tranquil imagery is a battlefield of contradictions and conflicting ideas. On this diminutive canvas an epic drama unfolds.