YUYELAI
Human in Animal_Human meets Animal
October 23, 2021
INTRODUCTION
As the title suggests, many animals appear in Yuyelai's first solo exhibtion, "Human in Animal_Human meets Animal."
Since ancient times, animals have been depicted as metaphors to explore our relationship with nature. The animals in Yuyelai's works are endearing, but they may well be prophets, incarnations of gods or demons.
Yuyelai has always questioned the meaning of humanity. What is the animality that exists in humans?
Her paintings of animals are her way of exploring the meaning of humanity.
Yuyelai's world is always moving forward. Look away and you might miss it completely. Not just the animals and humans, but also the roads, rivers, sea and sky − they can all vanish in an instant. Beneath the strange but colorful scenes in her paintings, there is a far-away world full of fascinating stories.
More than just physical materials, her paintings hide a spiritual world that can be seen not with the eyes but with the heart. Just like reading a story, it takes time for that world to appear before your eyes.
Matsuhashi Eiichi, Director of Karuizawa New Art Museum
“Human in Animal”
I have always questioned the existence of humanity. If humanity is defined by rationality, why do humans exhibit so much animalistic moments?
I want to explore the animality inside humans and discover the meaning of human nature, and the inherent nature of human beings as animals.
The Concept of Humanity
Humans were originally animals. But at some point in time, humans began to use the concept of "humanity" to differentiate themselves.
Where does humanity come from? This seems to be a question that has confronted us in some form or another throughout the ages. What is the "humanity" that we think about now? We even classify and evaluate ourselves based on this concept of "humanity".
Humans Inside Animals
For far too long, we have looked at humans in terms of "humanity". We should now look at humans from the perspective of animals.
We should look at "animality" in a positive light and accept it. This is a challenge to free yourself from the traditional image of human beings and explore the real image of humanity.
Chapter 1 : A Dazzling World
Loneliness Supremacy_Lonely Hegemony
Universal loneliness as a trait shared by animals and humans
Humans have struggled with loneliness since time immemorial. If human society was formed in order to dissociate from loneliness, why is it that humans feel loneliness even more because of society?
Exposition
Loneliness has been used to express the animality inside humans, and it has now become a social issue.
From the idea that animals in nature can also feel loneliness, we can find a common trait between the two. A lonely young girl travels a dreamy world and encounters plenty of mystical landscapes. Her form is somehow linked to animals living in nature.
If the true nature of humans is animalistic, then perhaps it is symbolized by this common trait of loneliness.
Is loneliness such a bad thing?
We project many different things in this lonely world that sometimes appears enjoyable.
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
Is loneliness the true nature of human beings?
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 53.0 × 41.8cm
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 53.0 × 41.8cm
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
2020, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 53.0 × 41.8cm
Remove the bounds of being "human"
and the form that resembles an animal
will make you feel a premonition of envy
Chapter 2 : Human in Animal
The existence of humans is inside animals
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 70.0 × 100.0cm
Human in Animal 58_camouflage2
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 70.0 × 100.0cm
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 53.0 × 41.8cm
Human in Animal 41_candy river little
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
Human in Animal 43_candy river3
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 53.0 × 41.8cm
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 70.0 × 49.0cm
Ancient Times Retrospective
Exposition
The "400 Years Ago" (2021) series expresses the thoughts and inheritance of our ancestors. In ancient times, humans were just another species of animal. But at some point in time, humans started to take a different path. We are both human and the descendants of animals at the same time. The animality that continues to live inside us is an inheritance from the past.
The paintings illustrate the lives of people 400 years ago. They are part of a theme of "looking back at ancient times to explore animality" that she started in 2020.
The relics of our ancestors from the past bear much significance in exploring our animality today.
Chapter 3 : Human meets Animal
An encounter with an animal
A human encountered an animal
It was a forbidden encounter"
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 70.0 × 100.0cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 72.7 × 60.6cm
Human in Animal 63_mononoke princess
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 60.6 × 72.7cm
Always loneliness
nobody is friend
touch it over and over, doesn't belong to you anything
Loneliness meets an animal
Seeing animals is same as seeing humans.
Seeing humans is same as seeing animals.
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 100.0 × 70.0cm
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 70.0 × 100.0cm
Human in Animal 66_catch and run
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 91.0 × 116.7cm
2021, Panel, Board, Paper, Mixed media, 41.8× 53.0cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 72.7 × 91.0cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 91.0 × 72.7cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 116.7 × 91.0cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 72.7 × 91.0cm
Human in Animal 70_pig catcher
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 91.0 × 72.7cm
Human in Animal 71_penguin catcher
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 72.7 × 91.0cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 130.3 × 162.0cm
2021, Panel, Oil on canvas, 130.3 × 162.0cm
ABOUT
YUYELAI
YUYELAI
Born in 1999. As of 2021, she is currently studying at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing.
At 21 years, she is one of a new generation of artists who has distinguished herself in various public and group exhibitions in Asia. She is the youngest artist to do a solo exhibition at Whitestone Gallery. She learned calligraphy and seal carving in her childhood, and is studying Eastern philosophy in university. She prides herself as being an Asian contemporary artist not distinguished by nationality. Her paintings make use of oil paints and traditional Chinese materials, and feature a painting style reminiscent of calligraphy.
Arising from her doubt of humanity, her paintings share a common theme of "animality inside humans", and illustrate ephemeral imaginary landscapes where humans and animals meet and interact. The umbrellas that appear in her paintings is a symbolic representation of Asia.
Gallery Exhibition
YUYELAI：Human in Animal Human meets Animal
October 23 - November 28, 2021
WHITESTONE GALLERY KARUIZAWA
Life is like a game
Whether you live or die, nothing changes