Person

Born in Beijing in 1980, Wu Jian’an studied at the Beijing Broadcasting Institute for his bachelor’s degree before enrolling in the Experimental Arts Department of the Central Academy of Fine Art, where he studied under the influential artist and teacher Lü Shengzhong, who had transformed the folk tradition of papercutting into contemporary art. Wu Jian’an has become a worthy successor, transforming the medium of paper and the paper cut technique into increasingly ambitious and complex works that often take the form of large installations. The range of references in his work embrace a Chinese and global lexicon of mythological, art historical and contemporary references. Wu’s work has been widely shown internationally, in solo and group exhibitions. Recent solo exhibitions include Infinite Labyrinth: New Works by Wu Jian'an, Chambers Fine Art, New York, NY (2019); Of the Infinite Mind, Guardian Art Center, Beijing (2018); Daydream Forest, University of Chicago Center, Beijing (2018); The Celebration Show of 2017 Chinese Lunar New Year, Galeries Lafayette Haussman, Paris, France (2018) and solo shows with Chambers Fine Art in Beijing and New York in 2017. His numerous curated group exhibitions include the Echigo-Tsumari Triennale 2018, Echigo Tsumari, Japan (2018) ) and Monkey Business: Celebrating the Year of the Monkey, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City,USA (2016). Wu Jian’an was chosen by curator Qiu Zhijie for Continuum – Generation by Generation, Pavilion of China, 57th Venice Biennale (2017). Wu Jian’an lives and works in Beijing where he is an Associate Professor of the School of Experimental Art of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.