DARK ROMANCE

Among Flowers, 2015

Why did you choose to focus on couples?

During my explorations into my own artistic style I did many experiments. Sometimes they turned out to be surprises. This series is a new concept after I meditated on my previous works. In the past, my works always featured a crowd of people, which meant the scene was full but lacked a center. Now, there are only two people in the picture. I used to pursue a surreal sense by reorganizing the image after cutting it apart. But now I just display the space on a single plane. Only after this did I discover that the pictures were all of a man and a woman. It just so happens that I am approaching an age where I am thinking about marriage issues, so I created this “Couple Faces(夫妻相)” series.

The color in these works appears quite dark and gloomy. Why is that?

The colors in my works constantly change. They are sometimes very colorful, sometimes several color lumps, and sometimes just black, white, and grey. Every painter has his own favorite colors. But I am in the process of exploring and learning. My color system is not mature. At first, I liked red very much. But then I felt that it was a little too aggressive, like blood, so I’ve almost given it up

Yang Chongqing 〔楊重慶〕

An artist from the post-1985 generation, Yang obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Architectural Department of Hunan University and master’s in art from Hunan Normal University. A Henan native, Yang now is active in exhibitions in Changsha and elsewhere around the country. In this series, Yang explores the reality of the emotional and psychological world. now. When I began with this series, I tended to use green to draw male characters, because at that time, my heart was just as peaceful as this color. But, then in the later period, when I was graduating from school, a lot of problems like finding a job and getting married affected my mood, so the colors of my works changed again. I think what I have been doing is finding colors that can vent my unhappy feelings.

Couple Faces No.13, 2014

Couple Faces No.12, 2015

Fruit without Flowers, 2015

What kind of emotions do you want to

convey through the couples in these works?

They reflect my inner world and emotional states in relationships. In reality, it is impossible for a couple to merely have happy experiences. When people are faced with pressure or other difficulties, they feel lonely, fearful, perplexed, depressed, powerless, and desperate.

How do you maintain artistic inspiration?

I am pleased that I can depict elements of life and show different states of my personal life in a way I am familiar with and make them into art. I think that’s why I never lack inspiration.

– SUN JlAHUl 〔孫佳慧〕