LIU QI (B. 1979)

Liu Qi’s figures are often emotionless, with loosely defined faces, bodies and poses. Instead, the artist focuses on stylistic accents, like the hairstyles and clothing of the figures. In the process, he explores how figures have been represented over time and across different cultures. Wall paintings, reliefs, and sculptures from various past civilizations, such as Ancient Egypt and Han dynasty China, are all incorporated into Liu’s unique style, which transforms ancient concepts and systems of figuration into a contemporary cultural icon by depicting scenes of contemporary daily life through Chinese ink.