Liu Lining’s (b. 1980) surrealist works in acrylic on canvas convey a sense of unease and threat to the individual in modern society. Many of his works are inspired by childhood memories and are imbued with melancholy and loneliness. “Childhood” shows the artist as a boy alone in a field beneath bare winter trees and an eerie moon, trailing a doll by a leash. On closer inspection, the doll turns out to be one of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas”. In the background is the railway that ran close to his home as a boy. More sinister still, “Hidden Danger” shows two politicians or leaders debating but apparently not engaging, with obviously dire repercussions on society. Armed gangsters lurk in the undergrowth, people and animals alike try in vain to hide. Life is uncertain and insecure.
2003 Graduated with BFA from Department of Printmaking in China Central Academy of Fine Arts
EXHIBITIONS:
2012 Micro-Control:Passage to the Secrets of Art Beijing
Made in China
Contemporary Chinese Artists Luciano Benetton Collection
Italian
Italian-China Biennial Italian
2011 She and them MK2 Gallery Beijing
Art Nova 100 Beijing
New Academy of Fine Arts Promotion
White Art Space Beijing
2010 Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition Geneva Switzerland
Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition Los Angle
Chinese Youth Art Exhibition MK2 Gallery Beijing
2009 The Myth of Displacement New Millennium Gallery Beijing
Gemeinsam in bewegung Wuhan
Beautiful New World EM Gallery Beijing
Heiqiao No.1 Open Studio show
2009 Art Beijing Extension China
2008 Chinese Contemporary Art
Now Ho Am Art Museum Seoul Korea
“Youth Horizon” PAM Art Space Beijing
Heiqiao No.1 Open studio show
2008 Art Beijing Extension China
See-Through Tang Contemporary Art Hong Kong
“Prism” New Millennium Gallery Beijing