Animamix artist breaks free from shackles
Print Edition
HAN Yajuan can already look back at a successful career, but, at 36, she’s far from done.
In the past decade, her internationally acclaimed solo exhibitions took her to the United State, England, Holland, Italy, Turkey, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia.
In 2012, Reuters put her on the “The Hot-Young-Artists League Table”. Her works are collected by major private and public collections such Uli Sigg, BSI Switzerland and the China Academy of Art.
Han is now having a solo-exhibition titled “Superlative” featuring oil paintings, sculptures and video installations at the Longmen Art Projects in Shanghai, open until the end of April.
Born in 1980 in Qingdao, Shandong Province, Han graduated from China Academy of Art in Hangzhou and later earned a master’s degree from Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, where she specialized in multimedia art and oil painting.
As one of the representing members of the Animamix Movement, Han is much influenced by post-war values and aesthetics.
In fact, “Super Flat” was a label for a whole generation of Japanese artists following Takashi Murakami. It has deeply affected Asian artists’ creations and expression of recent years. “Animamix Aesthetics” is one of the trends that are closely related to Super Flat.
Han has selectively applied the technique of “flat,” and introduced some popular Mosaic visual languages to reflect images.
She didn’t settle for creating visual pleasures either, instead, she is trying to break the shackles of flattening techniques in her mind to create a new space and timeline in her own works.
What lies beneath the lighthearted, sweet picture are serious and profound reflections, Han says.
As opposed to artists who focus on one subject for years, Han swiftly changes her subjects.
She spent the past decade traversing through three complete series: the “Bling Bling” series, which focused on individuality and self-expression of the generation growing up in a consumerism cultural context; the “Transcendence” series, which expanded into multiple universes and “With Something Beginning with C,” which directly correlates with her personal experience.
Ask the Artist
Q: I heard that Yu Hong, one of China’s top female artists, was your teacher at the academy. Surprisingly your paintings don’t show any connection with her, whether in technique or content. What type of influence did she have on you?
A: That’s why she’s a great teacher! She is a brilliant artist, with her own unique style, and incredible charisma. Yu Hong is absolutely an inspiration for all Chinese female artists, a true icon. However she always encouraged me to express myself in my own way, and to develop my own direction artistically. She gave me the freedom to grow as an artist, and I’m eternally grateful for that.
Q: You are considered one of the representative figures of Animamix (animation + commix), are you a fan of animation? What’s your favorite animation?
A: Actually I have many favorites. I always loved Dragonball as a child, and also Saint Seya. They recently made a movie of Saint Seya, which I really enjoyed — it brought back many memories. Also, I always look out for anything by Miyazaki Hayao.
Q: You are successful and you were on “The Hot-Young-Artists League Table in 2012” by Reuters. How would you comment Aileen Chang’s “If you want to be successful, then be successful earlier?”
A: The concept of success is a very personal thing. I think people have different opinions on what success really is. I was fortunate to achieve recognition for my work at quite a young age, but I feel I still have so much I want to achieve as an artist. Many challenges ahead, I still feel passionate about creating art at every stage of my life.
Q: You changed your subjects and themes several times. What initiated these changes? Many artists stick to one certain theme for decades and it is difficult for them to change. But that doesn’t seem to be a problem for you.
A: I’m a naturally curious person, new life experience brings new feelings, emotions, opinions. I use my art to express all of this. I don’t want to remain static as a human being, I want to continue to grow, to develop as an individual. And that’s the same with my art. It’s not difficult to change at all — in fact, it is an entirely natural process. What’s the point of being an artist if you stop creating? Surely the key is to move forward, to create history, not to dwell on, and continuously reproduce the past.
Q: Things like the White Rabbit Candies or teddy bears appear in your latest works. What do these mean to you? Are they merely sweet childhood memories?
A: Yes and No. On one hand these symbols may relate to my childhood memories, and experiences, which may evoke similar nostalgic feelings in an audience of my generation. On the other hand they may be interpreted in an entirely different way by the viewer. I can give some indication of the inspiration behind these symbols, but I leave space for people to come to their own conclusions.
Q: You seem to be engaged in the fashion industry. What’s your attitude toward fashion and what’s your dressing style? Do you have your favorite brand?
A: As a visual artist, I love beautiful things, any beautiful form will catch my eye, I can’t help it. I don’t have a certain style, I like to change my look, it depends on my mood, my environment.
Q: Do you still remember the ideal life that you dreamed of in your childhood? Do you think that you ever realized it?
A: As a child I dreamed of being an artist, so yes, I guess my dream came true!
Q: Besides painting, what are your other hobbies?
A: I love to travel, to discover the unknown, new life experiences, new cultures, meeting new people. This is what inspires me, pushes me forward and allows me to express myself through my art.
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