Liu Ye (Chinese: 刘野; pinyin: Liú Yě, b. 1964) is a contemporary Chinese artist. Liu Ye has stated, “I find that art should not interfere with politics because I see art as something universal, and not as something emanating from a specific country.”[1] His paintings regularly sell for over US$100,000.[2]
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Unlike many Chinese children of his generation, Liu Ye was exposed to Western children’s books, including books by Hans Christian Andersen. Liu Ye’s father worked as an author of children’s books, both for the government, and with his own texts. Because of his job, Liu Senior had access to “a library of children’s books from around the world.”[3] Though Liu Senior was a talented writer, he did not illustrate his own books.
While once playing a childhood game, Liu Ye unintentionally injured a friend. Feeling guilty, Liu Ye closed himself in his room. In an effort to cheer up his son, Lui Senior risked punishment to bring home volumes of Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. Liu Ye sites these days of self-isolation with Christian Andersen’s stories as the time in which he decided to become an artist. However indirectly, “each of these tales exerted an influence on Liu Ye’s art.” [3]
During this period in history, Mao’s state-mandated children’s books were likened to “handbooks on good behavior tailored to boy scouts.”[4] For two decades, these books were used for children's education.
He studied abroad in Germany for four years, adding to his sense of independence from the artistic circles at home. According to Karen Smith, author of "Liu Ye: Temptations", “Liu Ye has always been taken seriously for the quality of his art, for its distinctive vision and content, as opposed to the members of the early avant-garde in China who were uniformly grouped together for their political stance and ambitions.” [4]
Many of Liu Ye’s early paintings reference Mondrian. Liu Ye also frequently incorporated the image of a rabbit-girl Miffy in his early work.
Liu Ye’s more recent paintings often feature a single, female figure framed by a large expanse of color. As stated by Kris Wilton of artinfo.com, “the colors look bright and pure, and the figures, with their wide-spaced eyes, are easy to read.” [5] Liu Ye has quoted Oscar Wilde, stating that “every painting is a self-portrait…The little girls, therefore, are me, but more beautiful.” [6]
Liu Ye claims the loneliness and quiet felt in his paintings is related to his own painting style. He works without the help of an assistant, unaccompanied in his studio. Though Liu Ye works alone, he is not without external influences; some of his favorite artists include Lucas Cranach, Chardin, Vermeer and the minimalist movement. Consistent with his diverse array of influences, Liu Ye has no interest in being labeled as a painter exclusively for Asian audiences. He has said that “Art should be universal, and it is my hope that my art crosses boundaries of all kinds.”[7]