Young Chinese artists born in the 1970s and 1980s are often viewed as less politically engaged than their predecessors who experienced major political events such as the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square.

Although their works may seem to focus more on their emotions and feelings than their predecessors’ politically oriented art, their works are grounded in reality and bound to the problems the new generation faces.

“There are more works that are embedded with artists’ personal opinion on the widening gap between the rich and the poor, freedom of expression and democracy,” said Li Xiaojing, curator of How Art Museum in Shanghai, whose director Yun Chea-gap was invited to curate the new exhibition introducing Chinese and Korean artists at Hakgojae Gallery in Seoul.

“At the same time, they focus on the details of their works, which take longer hours,” she said, citing works by Ni Youyu whose coin works are on display at the exhibition.

Ni, 29, who studied Chinese paintings at the College of Fine Arts in Shanghai University, started to draw traditional Chinese landscapes on small coins about 2 centimeters in diameter, which are just worth a mere 2 cents (0.1 yuan, 18 won). 

He began the coin series in 2008, after witnessing many young artists giving up their careers and becoming office workers straight after art college graduation. The sad fact led him to consider the value of money.

Started from the idea of “make money by money,” Ni hammered the surface of a coin, rubbed it to make a flat surface, and drew images of old Chinese landscapes. His works of art using the 0.1 yuan coins are now worth around 5,000 to 10,000 yuan (934,000 to 1.8 million won).

“I have also seen a lot of money put into creating an art piece and I thought ‘Why can’t a penny be an object?” said Ni during the press guided tour of the exhibition on Wednesday.

Another Chinese artist Qiu Anxiong twists history centered on famous people in a six-channel video installation that shows various portraits of key historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Chinese politicians.

“History is about the legend of historical heroes. But in fact, it is history about ordinary people,” said Qui.

In his other video work “Sound of Chiaroscuro (song of waiting),” showing a dimly lit candle for about four minutes, the artist symbolizes the voices of intellectuals and activists repressed by authorities with candles.

Other works on exhibit include Jin Yangping’s paintings depicting complex, negative scenes associated with Chinese big cities through traditional images related to Beijing opera and Chinese martial arts Wushu.

The exhibition also features works by three Korean artists ― Lee Yong-baek, who presents his works shown at the 2011 Venice Biennale; Lee Seok, whose paintings explore their relations with space; and Heo Su-young’s paintings featuring fish and plants that appear in encyclopedias.

The exhibition “The Moment, We Awe” continues through July 28 at Hakgojae Gallery, Jongno, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 720-1524.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)