Li Hongbo

Summary

Li Hongbo (Chinese: 李洪波; pinyin: Li Hongbo) is a Chinese artist born in Jilin in 1974. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Jilin Normal University in 1996, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Folk Art in 2001, MFA degree in Experimental Art in 2010, both from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Li Hongbo is best known for his lifelike paper sculptures, made entirely out of paper and glue. His work has been exhibited in museums around the world.

Li Hongbo
李洪波
Born (1974-01-07) 7 January 1974 (age 50)
Jilin
NationalityChinese

Li's works have been exhibited internationally. Most recently, his works were displayed at Ludwigsburg Museum in Germany (2013), the 18th Biennale of Sydney in Australia (2012),[1][failed verification] and Klein Sun Gallery in New York (2013).[2] Li's first solo exhibit in North America titled Tools of Study at Klein Sun Gallery, received worldwide attention.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

He now lives and works in Beijing, China.[citation needed]

Works edit

Li Hongbo's works are characterized by their unique media- paper and glue.[9] Initially inspired by the idea of tradition and ubiquity that paper embodies, Li creates a hidden element of surprise in his paper sculptures that stretch in infinitely many ways.[10] The static and emotionless state of the sculptures transform into unpredictable images, ultimately accentuating the difference between restriction and freedom.

Each bust comprises roughly 7,000 to 26,000 sheets of white paper stacked on top of each other. They are glued manually in a honeycomb structure, allowing the resulting sculptures complete flexibility and sturdiness.[11]

Exhibition History

Solo Exhibitions
2014 "Tools of Study," Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY[12]
2013 "Li Hongbo - Out of Paper," Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany
2012 “Self,” Schoeni Art Gallery, Hong Kong
2012 “A Tree,” Mizuma & One Gallery, Beijing, China
2011 “The World – Li Hongbo New Works Exhibition,” Found Museum, Beijing, China; Modern Art Gallery, Taichung, Taiwan

Selected Group Exhibitions

2013 edit

  • "Confronting Anitya,” Palazzo Michiel, Venice, Italy
  • “CODA Paper Art 2013,” CODA Museum, Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
  • “PaperWorks: The Art and Science of an Extraordinary Material,” Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
  • “Hot Pot,” Brattleboro Museum, Brattleboro, VT
  • “Transformation – A Perspective of Contemporary Art,” 53 Art Museum, Guangzhou, China
  • “Freeze Frame Moments – 2013 Young Artist Invitational Exhibition,” Nen Art Museum, Guangzhou, China
  • “Insightful Charisma,” Shanghai Himalayas Museum, Shanghai, China
  • “Tan Wei Guan Zhi,” Wu Niu Visual and Packing Institute Visual Arts Museum, Chengdu, China

2012 edit

  • “Ctrl + N: Non-Linear Practice,” Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, South Korea
  • “Material àla Object,” Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, NY
  • “All our relations,” 18th Biennale of Sydney, Australia
  • “Research Exhibition on Post-70’s Generation Artists Jianghan Star Plan,” Wu Han Art Museum, Wu Han, China
  • “The Start of a Long Journey: The Collection of Excellent Graduate Works from The Central Academy of Fine Arts (2009 – 2011),” Art @ Golden Square, London, England
  • “1st Xinjiang Biennale,” Xinjiang International Exposition Centre, Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China

2011 edit

  • "Start from the Horizon: Chinese Contemporary Sculpture Since 1978," Sishang Art Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Material → Object,” EK Projects, Beijing, China
  • “Experimental Art,” Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Beijing, China

2010 edit

  • “The Big Bang,” White Rabbit Foundation, Sydney, Australia
  • “Journey of a Thousand Miles,” Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Object Energy,” Found Museum, Beijing, China
  • “Tien Kung Kai Wu,” Deshan Art Space, Beijing, China
  • “I’m on the Road to…,” Mizuma & One Gallery, Beijing, China

2007 edit

  • “The Desire for Material Welfare & No Wants,” Jin Du Art Center, Beijing, China
  • “Shared Time and Space,” K Space, Beijing, China

Publications edit

  • Li Hongbo (2014). A Piece of Paper (in Chinese and English). Beijing: Cathay Bookshop Publishing House. ISBN 978-7-5149-0902-9. OCLC 899212075. An exhibition catalog.

References edit

  1. ^ "18th Biennale of Sydney (2012)". Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  2. ^ "Li Hongbo: Tools of Study". Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  3. ^ "Les sculptures flexibles de Li Hongbo étonnent les New-Yorkais [Li Hongbo's flexible sculptures displayed in New York]" (in French). Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  4. ^ "Şaşırtan esnek heykeller [Startling flexible sculptures]" (in Turkish). Trthaber.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  5. ^ "CNCNEWS - Chinese contemporary art gets popularity in NY". en.cncnews.cn. 2014-01-23. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  6. ^ "Chinees imponeert met papieren sculpturen - NOS Nieuws" (in Dutch). Nos.nl. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  7. ^ "Las sorprendentes esculturas cambiantes de papel - BBC Mundo - Noticias". bbc.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  8. ^ MonrifNet (2014-01-26). "Scutura, il David di Michelangelo si muove. Le magie di carta di Hongbo - La Nazione - Firenze" (in Italian). Lanazione.it. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  9. ^ Yuan, Elizabeth (2014-01-20). "Li Hongbo's 'Tools of Study' at Klein Sun Gallery in NYC - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  10. ^ "Chinese sculptor stretches paper and imagination with his carvings – video | Art and design". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  11. ^ Jian, Jimmy. "Li Hongbo's paper sculptures stretch the imagination | Reuters". In.reuters.com. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  12. ^ Klein Sun Gallery, New York, NY

External links edit

  • Klein Sun Gallery