BTS Leader RM Also Fell for His Work... Chinese Master 'Yue Minjun' Creates a Buzz with Seoul Exhibition, Holds Solo Show in Busan

Expecting COVID-19 Herd Immunity, Opening Planned for December... 6 Months at Seoul Arts Center

'Laughing Through an Era!' Exhibition Expanded Significantly Compared to Seoul Exhibition, Largest Solo Exhibition Worldwide

Anticipated to Serve

A work by Yu Eminjeon.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The master artist touched an era that would have made people frown with laughter instead. As we step into the 2000s, a "master" regarded as a representative painter of the "China Avant-garde" is coming to Busan.

A solo exhibition of Yue Minjun (岳敏君/Yue Minjun, 1962~), a globally renowned artist considered one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Chinese contemporary art, is scheduled to be held in Busan this December.

Previously, from November 20, 2020, to May 9 of this year, Yue Minjun captivated the hearts of Koreans by "sprinkling" his "radical laughter" at the Seoul Arts Center.

During the six-month-long exhibition titled "Laughing at an Era!", a variety of works were showcased, ranging from early pieces from the 1990s to previously unreleased recent works.

Collaborations with Professor Choi Ji-man from Sookmyung Women's University’s Ceramics Department produced ceramic works, and silk-screen prints created in partnership with the print workshop P.K STUDIO (Baek Seung-kwan, Ha Jung-seok) hinted at the continuous expansion of his art into new genres.

At the Seoul exhibition, BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) leader RM (real name Kim Nam-joon), known as a collector of Yue Minjun’s works and an art enthusiast, attracted attention by visiting.

Visits from influencers such as actress Gong Hyun-joo, actor Jang Geun-suk, and singer Kim Jae-joong also drew public interest.

Director Yoon Jae-gap, who has served as the general director of international events like the Venice Biennale and Busan Biennale, is curating the Busan exhibition following the Seoul show.

The venue for the Busan exhibition is nearly finalized. It is reported that discussions with related organizations are ongoing to coordinate detailed schedules and administrative cooperation.

Director Yoon said, "His works deeply rely on the philosophy of Laozi and the Huayan school," adding, "This is especially evident in his recent works that contemplate life and death and offer reflection and criticism on civilization."

He further explained, "He is expanding his artistic world while considering contemporary issues such as how to resolve global environmental problems caused by anthropocentric thinking and reckless consumerism, and how to coexist."

Director Yoon stated, "By around December, herd immunity against COVID-19 is expected to be established, so the exhibition scale will be expanded compared to the Seoul show, with a significant increase in the number of works and events inviting the artist," adding, "The artist also hopes that this exhibition will spread the laughter of 'Ilso-gaechun (一笑皆春, One big laugh brings spring to the whole world)' to the Busan community, which has struggled due to COVID-19, and to Korea-China relations."

He also said, "Yue Minjun likes Korea. He highly appreciates the cultural and artistic atmosphere and achievements, as well as the democratic and open civil society, and hopes that as cultural exchanges between Korea and China become more active, they will mirror each other to achieve peace and prosperity."

Director Yoon emphasized, "Just as filmmakers from around the world visit Busan, interest and support from various sectors are needed so that world-class artists can showcase their work on the Busan stage."

Since the 2010s, Chinese contemporary art has attracted great attention, sweeping museums and galleries worldwide and occupying over 30% of the global art market.

If Yue Minjun’s solo exhibition, who has a strong fandom not only in China but also overseas, is held in Busan, it is expected to attract Chinese tourists based on cultural content.

It is also anticipated to create positive ripple effects such as revitalizing the entry of Chinese artists into Busan.

An event official said, "With the expected visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the accelerating improvement in Korea-China relations, holding an exhibition by a representative Chinese artist in Busan to commemorate the Year of Korea-China Cultural Exchange (2021?22) and the 30th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations will be a great event benefiting the tourist city of Busan."

While the Seoul exhibition was Yue Minjun’s first solo show in Korea, the Busan exhibition will be his second domestic solo exhibition and is set to be his largest solo exhibition worldwide.

Yue Minjun was born in 1962 in Daqing, Heilongjiang Province. After graduating from high school, he worked as an electrician at an oil factory in Tianjin before enrolling in the Painting Department of Hebei Normal University in 1985, during the height of the New Wave art movement, to pursue his hobby of painting as a major.

After graduation, while working as a novice teacher, the Tiananmen Square incident (1989) prompted him to begin his career as a full-time artist the following year, producing works characterized by cynical realism and political pop.

Since the 2000s, he has been regarded as a representative artist of the "China Avant-garde" and recently has been developing an artistic world expressing universal humanism and criticism of civilization.

He has participated multiple times in world-renowned art festivals such as the Venice Biennale and Gwangju Biennale, solidifying his position in the global art market.

His 1995 work "Execution" was sold for $5.9 million (approximately 5.4 billion KRW) at Sotheby’s London auction in 2007, and his 1993 work "Geng Geng" was sold for HKD 54.08 million (approximately 7.5 billion KRW) at Christie’s Hong Kong auction, setting records for the highest price for Chinese contemporary art at the time.

His unique artistic world, which cheerfully sublimates an era that can only frown into laughter, makes his work easily accessible to everyone.