[NEohioPAL]"Dispirited Garden" Bejing Artist Kokomoo exhibition

[Standing Rock Cultural Arts]

Greetings,

In welcoming the Year of the Boar in the Chinese New Year, we would like 
to present...

WHO: Standing Rock Cultural Arts

WHAT: “Dispirited Garden” Art Exhibition
-The Art of Bejing artist Yan Wei (Kokomoo)
-Inkjet Prints

WHEN: Opening Reception, Saturday, February 3, 8pm
-live music with authentic Chinese instruments
-exhibit runs through February 27

WHERE: North Water Street Gallery, 257 N. Water St., Kent

CONTACT: 330-673-4970

GALLERY HOURS: Thursday-Saturday 1-5pm

YAN WEI ARTIST STATEMENT

"I do art, because it is the most important pert in my life, I really 
get fun and happy from that, and I am used to think in a graphic way, I 
think in graphic, not words. And after two tears work in the company, I 
finally found what is my favorite and what I really want to do. My main 
project is girls, because I want to express the feeling of girls, and my 
paintings are based on the feeling of girls. And some childhood memories 
inspire me a lot.

YAN WEI BIO

My name is Yan Wei.

I was born on 26th March,1981.

Drawing and painting has been an enjoyable hobby of mine ever since I 
was a small child and because of this I had always wanted to further my 
artistic skills and knowledge at an academic institution. When the time 
came I decided to study Graphic Design at Tsing Hua University in 
Beijing and graduating with my Bachelor Degree in 2003.

In the years following my graduation from University I worked as full 
time as a illustrator in an Advertising company. Here my work included 
storyboarding and the drawing and painting of cartoon characters. I was 
also trained in the more corporate aspects of illustration with my work 
appearing in magazines, on posters, postcards and various types of 
labelling/packaging. My illustrations are used by Johnson & Johnson, 
Shishedo, Aupres, Contac, Pedigree, China Mobile, Lining, KSF, 
Yoshinoya, DQ, Dalian Sun Asia, and Fenbid. I am also an art director 
for the Gzoby digital magazine.

After 2 years working in this field I found it was different from what I 
really wanted to do. I wanted to be more creative and find my own style 
rather than be restricted by the requisitions of clients; I also needed 
more free time in which to do this. With this in mind I decided to 
resign from my full-time position in order to work on a freelance basis 
and thus be in a better position to concentrate on my true artistic desires.

I belong to a generation that grew up in a culture often affected by 
manga/anime, comics, street art, flat paintings and so on. I read lots 
of comics as a child and because of this my imagination and some of my 
artwork has been influenced by this. I like to paint in my own 
particular style, with my own ideas; sometimes cute and childish yet 
often incorporating a darker more sinister edge.. Most of my subjects 
are about the childhood, memory, games, and toys. I like to paint harsh 
reality under a lovely disguise. That series of little girls which I use 
is inspired by the 80’s Chinese pop style. Fairy tales have special 
meaning to me. The feeling of helplessness in many of the stories is 
masked with innocence, which creates a world of contrasts, 
contradictions, and shows the reality of the world as it really is.

In the past year I have completed a lot of black and white paintings. I 
wanted to find a wispy balance between black, white and grey. I also 
completed some colour paintings. In the near future I hope to paint more 
and more. I want to try new ideas, explore new avenues and try different 
types of media.

I am spending more time now and painting more on my current subject. It 
has been very interesting and exciting. I create what I know and feel, 
and this experience has left me with a great feeling. I enjoy traveling, 
especially in different countries and cultures. New feelings of the 
world and the way I perceive the world to be always arising from my 
journeys, like my trip in euro. New ideas are always being shaped and 
reshaped. Reading is another method that really inspires me. It’s a good 
way to understand the world and myself. Many times one simple sentence 
inspires a whole collection of ideas and paintings.

www.standingrock.net for updates

Thank you for supporting the Arts,


Standing Rock Cultural Arts
257 N. Water St.
Kent, OH 44240
330-673-4970
www.standingrock.net
info at standingrock.net