Continuously observing the changes in the public environment around me is the starting point of my creative practice. - Fang Yang
Fang Yang's creations are rooted in contemporary social landscapes. His ongoing interest lies in observing and contemplating daily life and the surrounding environment. Using simple forms and readily available materials, he seeks relatively free modes of expression within constraints. "Land, plants, buildings, and everyday objects gradually become spiritual symbols in my creative practice. I use them to record past and present stories, transforming them into artworks."
The frequent ecological disasters worldwide in lately are nature's alarm bells for humanity. The conflict between survival development and ecological protection has always been a complex issue. From the emergence of Land art in the late 1960s to the formation of Ecology art in the 1990s, and the hotly debated Ecofeminism in recent years, artists have been using various forms of art to express their concerns about nature and ecology.
Conceptually, "ecological art" encompasses natural ecology, social ecology, and cultural ecology, addressing related content and discourse of the three topics. From this perspective, Fang Yang's “Nearby Scenery” sculpture series can also be seen as "ecological sculptures."
Fang Yang's habit of promptly recording changes in the living environment through sketching and photography has accumulated a wealth of material for his creations. The artist attempts to document and discuss public environmental issues closely related to him through his works. He often uses discarded materials and ready-made objects generated during urban construction, creating sculptures and installations through arranging, carving, molding, and casting.
The exhibition theme Nearby Scenery is derived from a new series Fang Yang began in 2022. In these nearby sceneries, lie a few trees, a person, a house...The works appear tranquil on the surface but possess strong social critique and reflection at their core. Within the visible range, the artist collects materials on-site, and creates a batch of "landscape sculptures" by sketching on the spot and creating in the studio. These works express concern about the survival state of people amidst the rapid urban development and transition in contemporary China, the changing relationships between people and society, and the evolving modes of interaction between humans and nature.
By pausing in the present, and delving into life, we will see a different landscape.
