10 Questions with Boyuan Wang

Wang Boyuan is an artist based in London and China who explores absurdity and fantasy through printmaking, moving images, drawing, etc. Born in Zunyi, China, in 1998, he earned a BA from the Central Academy of Fine Art and an MA from the Royal College of Art. He has exhibited internationally at the China Printmaking Museum in Guangdong, RuptureXBIT in London, and the Air Gallery in Manchester. His work has been collected by institutions, including the China Printmaking Museum and the Odunpazari Modern Museum.

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ARTIST STATEMENT

Drawn to anomalies and absurdity, Wang Boyuan’s works employ imagination and humor to reflect and rethink identity, sexuality, social constraints, and underlying ideologies. He works with different mediums, including printmaking, moving images, drawing, and installation. Influenced by Fernando Pessoa, who wrote under various fictional pseudonyms. His current work is a series of drawings that serve as self-portraits exploring my possibilities, desires, and emotions. These drawings depict him as an androgynous worm with bobbies and willy, having distinctive features and experiencing diverse environments. Sometimes, he finds himself exuding vigor and vitality in an office with a glossy hairstyle. On other occasions, He is completely isolated and paralyzed on a bed, with only a single flower growing from a tumor, overseeing him in the air. He may be adorned with luxury jewelry, showing contempt behind a chandelier. There are instances where he takes on the role of a saint, letting his translucent blood be the nutrient for other life. Alternatively, He may transform into a worm lying in a flower bed, dressed in Lolita fashion, with honey dripping from a Japanese school skirt onto his body. During the wee hours, different versions of himself emerge, representing his fear, grief, despair, and joy.

INTERVIEW

Please introduce yourself to our public. Who are you, and how did you develop into the artist you are today? What experiences and training helped you develop your art practice?

My name is Wang Boyuan, born and raised in China. I have completed my Bachelor of Arts at the Central Academy of Fine Art in China and my Master of Arts at the Royal College of Art in the UK. I started to become interested in art through manga when I was young, fascinated by the different stories and vivid characters. I chose to study fine art for college, where I found it offers the most freedom to express my thoughts. During my studies, I experimented with many mediums. I was especially interested in printmaking, which taught me how to utilize the limitations of a material and be more sensitive to the attributes of the medium. The experience of studying abroad has given me social insight and broadened my perspectives.

As an artist based between London and China, how do your surroundings and cultural influences impact your creative process and the themes you explore?

After graduating with my BA in China, I moved to London to pursue my MA. The cultural differences between London and China have had a significant impact on my artistic practice. I experienced culture shock and observed numerous differences. Additionally, the experience of living abroad has fostered a sense of detachment from both my homeland and this new environment. The limbo state allowed me to reflect on and scrutinize the various mindsets that I had become accustomed to in the past, as well as those associated with the new experience. I had the chance to freely explore concepts of identity, sexuality, emotion, and desire. 

As a multidisciplinary artist, can you discuss the significance of using printmaking, moving images, and drawing as mediums for your artistic expression? How do you decide which medium best suits the concepts you wish to convey?

I believe that each medium possesses its unique attributes, both conceptually and visually. In my printmaking practice, I primarily utilize woodcut, drawing inspiration from its historical significance as a medium widely used for propaganda in China during the last century. Woodcut's strong visual language, limited to black and white, presents both a constraint and an opportunity for developing my visual style. Additionally, when working with moving images, I use a thermographic camera to capture videos. This allows me to explore the unseen infrared light that our human senses cannot perceive, reminding me of the limitations of my senses and fostering an awareness of other perspectives. I take into account the cultural and visual attributes when selecting a medium.

Your artwork delves into themes of absurdity and fantasy, often reflecting on identity, sexuality, and social constraints, as you mention in your statement. How do you navigate these complex themes? And how do you approach the boundaries between personal expression and broader cultural or social contexts?

I believe that absurdity is inherent in life and is unavoidable. Fantasy allows me to freely explore different possibilities and provides a different perspective, as well as the power to challenge norms and reflect on regularity. I create these irregular moments to escape norms and remind myself of the absurdity of constructed concepts. For example, I normalize sex by depicting sexual organs explicitly, liberating myself from the sexual constraints that are prominent in Chinese society.

Can you elaborate on how imagination and humor play a role in your creative process? How do you use these elements to provoke thought and reflection on societal norms and ideologies?

Humor plays a significant role in my practice, as it has the power to break imposed power structures and reverse dynamics, relieving feelings of inferiority. It helps me relieve the stress society has placed on me, given the numerous rules I encounter daily; breaking some of them brings relief and enjoyment. Sometimes, being offensive is fun because it challenges underlying ideologies and provides an opportunity to reflect on those mindsets. Humor violates norms and helps me discover novelty. Imagination is also a great way to experiment and explore various possibilities, as seen in works like the sci-fi novels of Ursula Le Guin, Invisible Cities, etc. 

Fernando Pessoa is cited as one of your influences. How does his work inspire or inform your artistic practice, particularly in exploring identity and the multiplicity of selves?

Fernando Pessoa used different pseudonyms for writing; he created around 80 names with different characters, personalities, writing styles, and backstories. Pessoa's attempt to experiment with and understand the self has inspired me to explore myself as well. Drawing inspiration from my personal experiences, desires, and the cultures I've encountered (Japanese, Chinese, and Western), I started to express my fears and struggles by depicting myself as a maggot or living in a dumpster. I also experimented with my identity, sexuality, social hierarchy, occupation, and various aspects of my personality.

Your latest drawings feature self-portraits depicting yourself as an androgynous worm with distinctive features in diverse environments. What inspired this unique portrayal, and what do you hope viewers take away from it?

I started drawing a lot of imaginary creatures. Imaginary creatures exist in every culture in the world, and I drew inspiration from ancient Chinese literature like Shan Hai Jing and medieval monsters. These creatures represent various aspects of vision, hope, emotions, etc. I began creating creatures that reflect my concerns. One of them is an androgynous worm, where I poke fun at myself as an insignificant worm, embracing my weirdness and insecurities. I hope viewers can enjoy my work and share a laugh with me. It would be even better if these different aspects of selves could resonate with them. 

Your work challenges societal norms and assumptions. What reactions or responses have you encountered from audiences, and how do you engage with differing interpretations of your art?

I love it when audiences find my work funny. They often focus on different aspects of my pieces; some are drawn to the absurdity and randomness, while others are intrigued by the explicit sexual themes. Some appreciate the contrast between my detailed and clean visual style and the grotesque subject matter I portray. Since my work is primarily figurative, people interpret it in various ways, sometimes creating beautiful but vastly different stories. I appreciate that my art can be freely interpreted by the audience. However, I've also faced criticism and offended some people with my work. Initially, I created purely for self-liberation without considering others' reactions. These experiences have prompted me to reconsider my audience and how we coexist. I'm reflecting on who my audience is and how our relationship can evolve.

Looking ahead, what are your aspirations as an artist? Are there particular themes or techniques you are eager to explore in the future, and how do you envision the evolution of your artistic vision over time?

I am currently transitioning my artistic practice to a less self-centered approach. I am eager to explore the world beyond myself, including the structure of society, coexistence among different beings, narratives, the significance of various spaces and environments, as well as people's garments and accessories. In terms of techniques, I aim to create larger works, further develop my visual language, and adopt a more subjective approach. Specifically, I plan to incorporate printmaking and colors into my practice to enrich my visual expression.

And lastly, what are you working on now? Do you have any new projects or exhibitions you want to share with our readers?

I am currently exploring society and other beings in my artistic practice. Additionally, I will continue to explore myself and maintain my self-portrait series. I find inspiration in placing myself within others and imagining different possibilities. Furthermore, I am focusing on developing my visual language through experimentation with watercolor monotype printmaking and charcoal drawing, etc. 

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.