Born in Sichuan in 1958, Wang studied and worked as a teaching assistant at the Zhejiang Academy (now China Academy of Art) in the 1980s, where he was exposed to western art concepts and practices which profoundly influenced his work. Since 2000, Wang has created elaborate theater productions and multimedia installations. Well-versed in philosophy, mathematics, and data-collection methods, Wang seeks to integrate history, philosophy, modern criticism, as well as the dramas of daily life into his art.
His work has been exhibited around the world including at the Guggenheim Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, ART021, Art Basel Hong Kong, Long March Space, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Today Art Museum, Shenzhen OCT Contemporary Art Terminal, Shanghai Himalayas Museum, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art, Sydney, and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.
2017
ACRYLIC AND OIL ON CANVAS
THE EAST WEST BANK COLLECTION
53 1/8 x 87 IN
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
In Setting No. 2, the figure of the female window cleaner draws attention to the role of labor, a subject which Wang explored through various projects in the 1990s. The blue and black colors in the background symbolizes the limitless sky and earth surrounding the worker. The yellow stripe mimics the movement of the cleaner’s arms as she continues her cleaning duties, bridging the gap between the sky and earth, and unifying all the elements in the composition.
