The painted grins are stretched so wide they seem to hurt. And that is pretty much what Yue Minjun intended, the Chinese artist explained at the Paris opening of his first major show in Europe.
A former electrician turned contemporary artist, Yue shot to international attention in 1999 when his signature laughing-man self-portraits made a much-noted eruption at the Art Biennale in Venice.
“If I paint laughter it is because I feel pain towards human life,” the 50-year-old, one of China’s most bankable art figures, told reporters through an interpreter. “I found a comical way to express something tragic.”
Where does this sense of tragedy come from? “It’s first and foremost a perception of human life. But it’s also a feeling towards the world we live in,” he offered.
Clothed in black, his head smooth, Yue confessed to feeling “a little anxious and shy” at the sight of the four dozen paintings and 100-odd sketches that went on show on Wednesday at the Fondation Cartier, where they will remain to March 17.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen so many of my works displayed at the same time,” he told reporters. “It’s also the first time I get to examine myself.”