Beijing, January 7th, 2011

You and Beijing 

Global Journal: as an artist, living in Beijing for almost 20years, what do you most enjoy about being in this amazing megalopolis? (it seems that you live in Beijing but in some isolation.) Would you describe for us a little your “way of life”, how you set your daily personal ‘stage’ to be in the working condition that suits you.

Zeng Fanzhi: I love the cultural atmosphere here in Beijing. For instance, mylife is not different to that of ordinary people. I go every day tothe studio to ‘work’; I try to find a balance between rationality and sensitivity, also between reality and the ideal. Do you work at anytime of day, of the week, of the month, of the year?

I may go to the studio at any time, including the weekend. While I am in Beijing, I go to the studio every day.

How would you describe your relationships with the other artists in China ? how do you see the art community in Beijing today when you think of the world art scene? how strong, how interesting are the artists in China?

In general today, the art community in Beijing is very active although the level still needs to be improved. Artists currently in China are living with the most fabulous historical background and social environment, it offers the artists the most diverse and powerful life experiences and stories.

You and the globe

Do you live in a globalized world?

Yes, I pursue a globalized life style in my own way.

Do you often travel? please comment a little (where, why...)

Yes, I traveled around the whole of China when I was young, and then visited a lot of foreign countries, mainly European and American cities with rich artistic value. This was mainly in order to see or to learn about other interesting works of art.

You and the Masks

When considering the series ‘Behind the Mask’, Beneath the Mask’ or ‘We’, they all call upon identity, Truth and their counterfeits or counterparts. You seem very concerned about how one’s identity can transform itself in the middle of the mass of people? Would you give us your comment on that?

With regard to my values or what I want to express, only my artworks can express what I want to say.

What mask do you wear, if any, in the present time? With regard to the people around you, do you feel their masks are changing?

I wear my own mask, the one showing my true expression; yes, but every mask shows a sort of reality too.

Picasso, Goya or Bacon were all Mask makers. how would you differentiate them on that?

I am not going to differentiate between these artists – every excellent artist possesses a unique and infinite language.

Lately, some of your figures have not worn masks but are hidden behind some jungle-like curtains which might have come from the inner self or from the outside? are the Masks falling or melting away?

It has to do with the whole. It comes from the inner emotion I would like to express.

You and China

What strikes you in China and its people today? What interests you now when looking, living, thinking of this new ‘power’ that everyone seems to be fascinated by and afraid of at the same time? Do you fear the future of China?

Life is what I live, the future is what I hope.

Would you comment on the latest thing that has shocked you, in a positive or negative way?

We have visited Takashi Murakami’s studio in Japan recently; his way of working and artistic direction has inspired me a lot, I feel some intuition in my heart is becoming much clearer, and at the same time, the next exhibition I’m going to hold will show much more enthusiasm and power in my creative work.

Article by Edouard Archambault, with Liu Huaming for the translation