10 Questions with Yuan Fang

Yuan Fang is a female artist born in China in 1985. Coming from a family with a strong artistic background, she was imperceptibly influenced by and developed a deep interest in art from childhood. Her works accommodate free interpretations and associations by viewers, either in a skilled combination of numerous conflicts or in adjustable light and shadow, rich in texture and natural interest. Moreover, she believes that an artist should continuously explore and create what is unknown, which is essentially similar to being an explorer. In her "Post-Ready-Mades" series, the painting "Comedic Scenes during Courtship" has been praised by Akiyoshi Soseki, Director of the Japan Committee - Federation of Asia Artists. Furthermore, in her "Calligraphy Wrinkle" series, "Three Beauties of the Present Day" was published in "Artist Magazine of Taiwan" (October 2015 issue). In the "Light and Shadow Action Painting" series, "Royal Wedding" has earned the "3×3 International Illustration Show No.20" Professional Show: Merit Award.

yuanfangart.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

The artist has conducted many bold explorations, and currently, she is mainly engaged in the creation of the "Light and Shadow Action Painting" series. Artists draw inspiration from her rich life experiences, acute observations, introspective thoughts, and the dynamic action painting techniques of American artist Paul Pollock. Then channel these perspectives into her creative endeavors, which harness the dance-like, lyrical, and transformative interplay of light and shadow. By melding hand painting, graffiti, Photoshop, etc., she aspires to forge an unprecedented art form in the annals of art history—"Light and Shadow Action Painting". This style seeks serendipity and spontaneity within the abstract dance of light and shadow, using mutable and abstract color effects to underscore a distinct allure or essence. For example, consider the artwork "Royal Wedding," in which the dance-like of light and shadow accentuated the portrait's charm, thus epitomizing abstraction. Such randomness and contingency are deliberate artistic creations and choices that reflect the uncertainty and serendipity that pervade modern life—rife with unnamed fears and potential opportunities. Life is an ongoing, ever-evolving journey; thus, one may stumble upon extraordinary breakthroughs and rewards through persistent effort, mastery, and the discovery of joy amid challenges.

Coming from a family with a strong artistic background, Yuan Fang frequently talks with her father about art. Thus, they organized a team called F3 and jointly proposed the artistic concepts of "Post-Ready-Mades" and "Light and Shadow Action Painting.”

Light and Shadow Action Painting: The Birth of Jesus, digital painting, 2015 © Yuan Fang

INTERVIEW

First of all, tell our readers a little bit about you. Who are you, and how did you start experimenting with images?

I am Yuan Fang, an artist from Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China. My father, a passionate art collector, instilled in me an early appreciation for art by exposing me to traditional Chinese painting, handicrafts, and ceramics. However, the pivotal moment that ignited my passion for painting was during my childhood. At eight years of age, there was a flood in my hometown, and many houses were underwater. After the flood, people cleaned up, and the streets were full of trash. My dad found a small packet of drawing paper in the trash. Despite being stained yellow by the floodwaters, the paper was salvageable. Bringing it home, I began my artistic journey on that stained paper, finding beauty and serendipity within its marred surface. This event marked the beginning of my love for painting, culminating in the opportunity to host my first solo exhibition at the age of 13.

What is your personal aim as an artist?

My objective is to continually enrich myself on my artistic journey, striving to surpass my past achievements and exploring new avenues of creativity within myself.

Light and Shadow Action Painting: Royal wedding, digital painting, 2023 © Yuan Fang

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What aspect of your work do you pay particular attention to?

The creative process resembles an experiment wherein artistic creation predominantly stems from instinctual feelings. I intend to heighten these emotions throughout the process and occasionally evoke other sensations as they intensify. By synergizing various materials and colors, I consistently facilitate their transformation, thereby sparking my curiosity and fostering further evolution. Occasionally, the outcome diverges greatly from the initial vision, yet it authentically reflects the emotions experienced during its creation.

Can you elaborate on how your life experiences and observations influence your approach to creating the "Light and Shadow Action Painting" series and how you channel these perspectives into your artistic endeavors?

I have a profound fascination with the "freehand brushwork" technique prevalent in traditional Chinese painting, which relies on the delicate balance between resemblance and abstraction. In addition, I derive great pleasure from collecting unique stones; their natural and unrefined attributes often evoke a sense of wonder at nature's artistry. Life is a stage filled with drama, where intentional pursuits do not always yield authenticity, kindness, or beauty—encapsulated in the adage, "the flowers we intentionally plant may not bloom, while the willows, planted unwittingly, may provide shade." These sentiments encapsulate the idea that life is random and unpredictable. Reflecting on my artistic origins, akin to the random water stains on my childhood drawings, unexpected elements intruded into my life, yielding extraordinary effects divergent from traditional artistry. In my work "Light and Shadow Action Painting," I explore a similar philosophy, aiming to capture the essence of chance and serendipity through the abstract interplay of light and shadows, accentuating a distinct allure.

Your artistic style combines elements of hand painting, graffiti, and digital techniques like Photoshop. How do you navigate the intersection of traditional and digital mediums to forge the unique art form of "Light and Shadow Action Painting"?

I find joy in the rhythmic sound of rain tapping on the roof tiles while I seek refuge beneath the eaves during a torrential downpour, observing the mesmerizing patterns created by water cascading down walls. Exploring ancient towns, I admire the weathered walls, embankments washed by rain, and the play of shadows cast by trees on windowsills, etc. I take pleasure in creating visuals where colors seamlessly blend and flow across various mediums. Using my camera, I capture and preserve fleeting moments of beauty. These elements are playfully combined without a fixed theme and—with the aid of digital tools such as Photoshop—transformed into captivating compositions of light and shadow— I refer to as "Light and Shadow Action Painting."

The concept of serendipity and spontaneity seems central to your artistic philosophy. How do you embrace randomness and contingency in your creative process, and how do these elements reflect the uncertainties and opportunities of modern life?

The creative process inherently involves uncertainty and chance occurrences. For example, imagine a scenario where a wet acrylic painting rests on a table, and a kitten leaps onto the surface, leaving its paw prints on the canvas before darting away. Although this accidental imprint may disrupt the initial creative direction, it injects the piece with renewed vitality, prompting me to seek fresh inspiration within this unexpected visual narrative. From my perspective on art, there are no "failed" works of painting—each piece possesses the potential for rebirth through unforeseen and indeterminate events. Modern life is characterized by uncertainties and contingencies. For example, one may be uncertain about when the COVID-19 pandemic will commence or may not know the city where their next job will be or the direction of their future life path. These uncertainties mirror the hazy impressions created by the interplay of light and shadow in "Light and Shadow Action Painting." Moreover, the abstract interplay of light and shadow, evocative of leaping and dancing, symbolizes the hesitation and self-exploration individuals undergo in these processes. It is precisely within this state of uncertainty that new sources of inspiration emerge.

Post-ready-mades Modigiliani and Yuan Fang collaborated on March 20, 2015, mixed media, 2015 © Yuan Fang

Post-ready-mades Utagawa Kunimasa and Yuan Fang collaborated on October18, 2015, mixed media, 2015 © Yuan Fang

Where do you draw inspiration from for your work? Do you have any specific reference or artist you particularly look up to?

I seek inspiration in everyday life and within the act of artistic creation, where new insights arise during the process, each capable of reshaping the previous one until the overall artistic vision meets my satisfaction. I am especially drawn to Jackson Pollock's "Action Painting" movement, where the act of dripping paint onto a canvas is an expression of the artist's spontaneous emotional impulses and dynamic movements. This approach has profoundly influenced me and provided me with considerable enlightenment.

What is your favorite experience as an artist so far?

An illustration from the "Light and Shadow Action Painting" series titled "Royal Wedding" received the Merit Award in the Professional show at the "3×3 International Illustration Show No.20" and was selected as the back cover for the anthology, showcasing outstanding works from the competition. I am deeply moved and feel incredibly fortunate to have received this accolade.

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future? Anything exciting you can tell us about?

I am currently immersed in an upcoming personal exhibition. Should the opportunity present itself, I aspire to conduct a tour abroad, connecting with artists and curators from diverse countries and fostering new friendships worldwide.

Finally, share something you would like the world to know about you.

Feel free to visit my website yuanfangart.com

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.

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