Wang lei
Wang lei
Born in Henan Province, China in 1980 and studied for an MA in Arts in Department of Experimental Art of Central Academy of Fine Arts. Lives in Beijing and Luoyang.
2007 My Story-Nominated Award Exhibition of the 5th Light of Academe, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China
2008 Art Basel-Miami, Miami, USA
China-Europe Exhibition of Paper Art, Austrian Museum of Paper-making, Steyrermühl, Austria
2008 Chinese Contemporary Art Documents, Wall Art Museum, Beijing, China
2010 The Start of a Long journey: 2010 CAFA Excellent Graduation Works Exhibition, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China
2011 The Decade of the Rabbit, White Rabbit Collection, Sydney, Australia
Harmonious Differences-Second Experimental Art Exhibition, CAFA Art Museum, Beijing, China
2012 Unimaginative: Installation Art Exhibition, Chambers Fine Art, Beijing, China
Second Art Stage Singapore, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Starting: China Sculpture Institute Tour for Young Artists, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
The Conversation: Wang Lei Solo Exhibition, Modern Art Gallery, Taiwan; Found Museum, Beijing, China
2013 Chengdu Biennale, The New International Exhibition Center, Chengdu Inter-vision, A Contemporary Art Exhibition Across the Strait 2013, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China; Taiwan Art Museum, Taiwan
Gradualness: 2013Young Artists Research Exhibition, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China; Wuhan Art Museum, Wuhan, China
Dancing Soul on Paper: Wang Lei's Art Exhibition, International Financial Museum, Beijing, China; Chinese Museum of Funds, Suzhou, China
Hand-Woven Toilet
Knitting has enriched styles of clothing for a long time but now it has turned into a language of art. From Chinese K'o-ssu, brocade to tapestry, knitting has turned daily products into art.
The Artist has abandoned the conventional materials such as cotton, linen, wool or silk which are used in traditional knitting, and he doesn’t intend to display a picture hanging on a wall. Instead, the toilet paper were sorted and cut and then made into threads. The threads made a new kind of literature. The paper threads are woven into clothes but the audience does not always recognize what it is made from. However, the work gives an idea that daily life can be viewed differently turning wasteland in to grassland; poor into rich; humble into noble; the mess of life has turned into a blooming flower.
People’s Daily
The characteristic of People's Daily is the reason why I choose it as my material. It is special, time indicative and definite. The newspaper was collected everyday from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, through collecting. Editing, cutting and knitting, the newspapers are transformed into “a paper fiber with social attribute”.