Image courtesy of the artist and Pearl Lam Galleries
April 2024—Pearl Lam Galleries is delighted to announce our global representation of Yan Lei, a Chinese conceptual artist. Yan’s unique artistic vision and unconventional approach have garnered him international recognition within the Chinese contemporary art scene.
Born in 1965 in Hebei, China, Yan Lei graduated from the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (now known as the China Academy of Art) in Hangzhou in 1991. Through an array of mediums including painting, sculpture, installation, video, and performance, he fearlessly explores and reveals various issues such as power dynamics, competition, and the interplay of values and prices within the art system. His works often incorporate multiple and contradictory values, showcasing his thought-provoking reflections on the challenges faced in contemporary art making.
As a prominent figure in Chinese conceptual art, Yan Lei captures the ever-changing dynamics of social, political, and economic factors within the context of globalisation. He delves into the intricate relationships between the local and global, the centre and peripheries, and the powerful and the disempowered. He has participated in prestigious exhibitions such as Documenta (Kassel, Germany, 2007 and 2012), the Venice Biennale, the Gwangju Biennale, the Istanbul Biennial, and the Shanghai Biennale. His works have also found recognition and inclusion in esteemed art collections such as the Cantor Arts Center, Centre Pompidou Paris, M+ Sigg Collection, and more.
Colour Wheel, one of Yan’s compelling series, showcases his pursuit of an optimistic tone in his work. By utilising chromatographic separation, he has produced an astounding 360 different colours. The logic and sequences employed with the colour wheel allow for an infinite number of combinations, adding both mystique and automation to the production process of Yan’s paintings.
Pearl Lam Galleries will also showcase Yan’s artworks at the upcoming fair ART OnO in Seoul. You can find us at stand 103 from Thursday, 18 April to Sunday, 21 April at SETEC (Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention).
Yan Lei states, “Joining Pearl Lam Galleries is a pivotal moment in my artistic journey. It is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with a gallery that shares my vision and passion for pushing boundaries in the contemporary art world. I am thrilled to be represented globally by Pearl Lam and look forward to creating thought-provoking and impactful works together.”
Pearl Lam says, “I am delighted to welcome Yan Lei to the gallery’s roster of artists. Yan Lei’s unique and unconventional approach to art, coupled with his deep exploration of societal dynamics, aligns seamlessly with our gallery’s commitment to showcasing groundbreaking contemporary artists. We are excited to support Yan Lei’s artistic endeavours and to present his works to a global audience. His inclusion in our gallery further strengthens our roster of exceptional artists, and we look forward to a fruitful collaboration that pushes the boundaries of artistic expression.”
