He Xiangyu’s interviewed by Guilherme Villa in front of a series of his paintings. He speaks of the influence of his father who was a surgeon. 3.29 in length. He Xiangyu’s art practice could be seen as a proving ground or a laboratory of materials and concepts, in which he investigates and engages with a variety of personal, social and political subjects. Having grown up in a dramatic period of rapid urbanization in China, his art is centered on investigating and engaging with the operating mechanisms and structural relationships of current social systems. He gained attention for his large-scale works, such as « The Coca-Cola Project » and « Tank Project », which explore both objects and symbols from everyday life.
He has said that “I’m seeking to adjust and guide people’s perception through the material changes within the object”, using a range of media to reflect on philosophical ideas such as the increasing materialism and obsolescence of our society as well as the effects of the institutionalisation and commercialisation of contemporary art.
