Art Review: Ye Hongxing - The Modern Utopia @ Scream

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 145 months ago

Last Updated 17 September 2012

Art Review: Ye Hongxing - The Modern Utopia @ Scream
Ye Hongxing - Dream World No.3. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Dream World No.3. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Dream World No.3 - Detail 2. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Dream World No.3 - Detail 2. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Mandela No.7. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Mandela No.7. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Mirage No.7. Courtesy Scream London.
Ye Hongxing - Mirage No.7. Courtesy Scream London.

Ye Hongxing's latest works are bold and bright, and full of Chinese imagery such as tigers and dragons juxtaposed with more western themes. A closer look reveals these huge works to be composed almost entirely of tiny stickers, including many familiar brands.

Despite the complexity of creating a large image with only stickers, there is plenty going on in every one of her works. So much so that it becomes too much to take in and the viewer feels overwhelmed. But that's the point.

Hongxing is showing us how the clash of Western and Eastern cultures, coupled with China's economic and technological progress has a dizzying impact of information overload on its people. Her work may be more positive and less political than the works of other Chinese artists but, taken for what it is, it's a visual feast that's hard not to like.

Ye Hongxing: The Modern Utopia is on at Scream, 27-28 Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DH until 20 October. Entrance is free.

For more Chinese art, visit the inspired Art of Change at the Hayward Gallery.