“I think painting is in fact a form of rehearsal expressed through different mediums.” ThinkingDifferentPainting Author:Wang Jianwei
“From about age 17 to 25, a time some people describe as "beautiful youth," it was "arranged" for me to live with two different collectives. These eight years where I had absolutely no choice influenced me in two ways: firstly, I gained an understanding of "freedom." To this day, I very much respect and treasure individual choice. Secondly, I developed a suspicion towards any kind of organization, collective, movement or uniform action, as well as a rejection of any kind of power.” PeopleKindDifferentAgeActionBeautifulChoicesIndividualUnderstandingYouthRejectionThis DaySuspicion Author:Wang Jianwei
“When you are a part of a world that is within an enclosed system, the biggest threat is that the loss of contact with any voice from the outside - a point of reference that is different from you - becomes habitual. The loss of this reference makes the enclosed system seem perfect. I can still feel this kind of threat today, the voice that gives legitimacy to various kinds of enclosure.” WorldGivingKindDifferentTodayLossPerfectThreatVarious Author:Wang Jianwei
“Opportunism towards knowledge is a utilitarian demand that knowledge must be immediately practical. Just like with sociology where we hope its purpose is to serve society, however, the true purpose of sociology lies in its impracticality. It cannot become practical or else it loses its meaning. Perhaps we should learn a different kind of knowledge: the knowledge to question knowledge.” KindDifferentLyingPurposeDifferent KindsSociologyUtilitarian Author:Wang Jianwei
“When I look back on the past two decades of my journey today, I guess many people would interpret my artistic practice as a kind of cross-media attempt. I have indeed tried many different kinds of media over the past 20 years and collaborated in many different ways with people from many different fields. However, I like to understand this process as a kind of compensation for having once lost my "right of choice," an exercise of free choice and taking responsibility for any consequences that might result from it. To be honest, it's a bit of a paranoid act.” PeopleKindDifferentTodayPastChoicesResponsibilityJourneyHonestExerciseConsequenceArtisticBeing HonestDifferent KindsTaking ResponsibilityCompensationOver The PastParanoid Author:Wang Jianwei
