Art Scene Warehouse
Shanghai, , CN China
Yin Zhi Xin's sculptures, which he creates out of smooth, white or black material (both fiberglass and bronze), are voluminous, rounded and whimsical. Even the heads of the figures and hair (if any) do not have any roughness whatsoever. The smoothness of the skin and human parts contrasts with the rugged, rippled texture of the female ballerinas� dresses, emphasizing the delicateness of the human body. But Yin�s works, despite the fact that the figures do not conform with modern "standards" of beauty, are appealing, and many people feel a sense of joy when they view the sculptures.
The influences on Yin Zhi Xin are clear: classical French artist Degas painted and sculpted ballerinas; Colombian artist Botero painted and sculpted oversized figures; and yet Yin's figures are still Chinese. Perhaps it is the slits for the eyes, which Yin uses, or the small Chinese noses. It seems that Yin Zhi Xin is poking fun at such classical and famous Western artists in his works, by pointing out that even oversized girls can be beautiful ballerinas! The artist combines his oversized figures with sport, namely dancing, which does not seem to be a natural fit. Yet, somehow a kind of beauty emerges, which perhaps points to the fact that it is not purely the physical beauty that attracts us to the ballerinas, it is the grace and the mental discipline and effort that the ballerinas display. Are Yin Zhi Xin�s figures really �out of shape�, or are they just a different shape from our own standards? Yin�s work forces viewers to question their own mentally programmed takes on ! beauty. Indeed, historically, larger sized women were seen as attractive.
Yin Zhi Xin's latest works can be seen exclusively at Art Scene Warehouse in a solo exhibition starting on Sep 21st, 2006.
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