Wang Keping
Wang Keping is one of the most eminent members of Stars Art Group (xing xing 星星画会) , a foundational movement of the contemporary Chinese avant-garde active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His wood sculptures blackened by fire and were firstly inspired by totem and by idols who reminded of folkloric tutelary figures in north of China and in Korean. Then his creation turned to the simple formes with the themes : women wearing a bun, kiss/couple, bird, masculine figures with tail, and a pair of teat. The simplification and purification were embodied in his sculptures, moreover, in the best cases reminded of Constantin Brancusi’s works.
Works
Femme accroupie
Le penseur
Femme accroupie
Grand Couple
Couple H.220cm
Petite Femme H.3M
Totem “Le penseur” – 5m
CATALOGUE – WANG KEPING
Enlacement
Small Woman
Couple
Bird
Biography
Wang Keping is one of the most eminent members of Stars Art Group (xing xing 星星画会) , a foundational movement of the contemporary Chinese avant-garde active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Wang’s wood sculptures and his early theatre play uncovered the political opponents’ detention conditions, which also gave rise to sharp polemics in the press in Taiwan and in China.
Presented by Hanart Gallery in Taiwan and Tokyo Gallery in Tokyo very early, Wang achieved great success with the collectors and the support of the press.
Wang Keping is one of the most eminent members of Stars Art Group (xing xing 星星画会) , a foundational movement of the contemporary Chinese avant-garde active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Wang’s wood sculptures and his early theatre play uncovered the political opponents’ detention conditions, which also gave rise to sharp polemics in the press in Taiwan and in China.
Presented by Hanart Gallery in Taiwan and Tokyo Gallery in Tokyo very early, Wang achieved great success with the collectors and the support of the press.
His sculpture “Silence” of wood and then of bronze is an icon at the beginning of the Chinese Avant-Garde and has been reproduced many times.
Wang Keping played a decisive role in the Post-89 Exhibition (1992) in Hong Kong. It was he who selected the artists with Li Xianting and presented them to Johnson Chang.
Married to a French person living in Beijing, he benefited from a related immunity, but he still had troubles. Therefore, he immigrated to France in 1984. In Paris, he got to know Gao Xingjian, the future winner of the Nobel Prize for literature.
His wood sculptures, blackened by fire, were first inspired by totems and by idols that reminded him of folkloric tutelary figures in northern China and in Korea. Then his creation turned to the simple forms with the themes: women wearing a bun, kiss/couple, bird, masculine figures with tails, and a pair of teats. The simplification and purification were embodied in his sculptures; moreover, in the best cases reminded one of Constantin Brancusi’s works.
Asked by the Ministry of Culture (like several sculptors at that time), Wang Keping created a large portrait of wood of François Mitterrand.
He was one of the artists who were invited for the exhibition “Champs de la Sculpture” on the Champs Elysées (Paris) in 1999.
Exhibitions
Videos
Vidéo
Monumental • Jardin de sculptures
Career
Solo exhibitions
2024
The Truth Comes to Light, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, France
Collection Marie et Jacques Barrère, Château de la Haute Borde, France
Dans la Lune, Galerie miniMASTERPIECE, Paris, France
2023
Carte-Blanche, Musée Guimet MNAAG, Paris, France
2022
Métamorphoses – Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France 8 (15 janv. – 12 mars)
Wang Keping à l’œuvre – Musée Rodin, Paris, France (3 mai – 5 juin 2022)
Carte blanche – Musée Guimet MNAAG, Paris, France (nov. 2022- mars 2023)
Solo exhibitions
2024
The Truth Comes to Light, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, France
Collection Marie et Jacques Barrère, Château de la Haute Borde, France
Dans la Lune, Galerie miniMASTERPIECE, Paris, France
2023
Carte-Blanche, Musée Guimet MNAAG, Paris, France
2022
Métamorphoses – Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France 8 (15 janv. – 12 mars)
Wang Keping à l’œuvre – Musée Rodin, Paris, France (3 mai – 5 juin 2022)
Carte blanche – Musée Guimet MNAAG, Paris, France (nov. 2022- mars 2023)
2020
Les Oiseaux – Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire
2019
Stars Forever Stars – 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong
2018
Sculptures sculptées – Galerie Nathalie Obadia – Paris, France
Simplicité, nature, sensualité – Galerie Nathalie Obadia – Brussels, Belgium
2017
Birds, Harmony of the Forest – 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong
2016
Wang Keping, Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
2015
Wang Keping, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong
2014
Musée Cernuschi, as part of a partnership with Art Paris Art Fair
Wang Keping, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), Beijing, China
2013
Zürcher Studio, New York, USA
2012
Wood Felsh Form Nothingness,10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong
Galerie Dumonteil, Shanghai, China
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
2011
Chinese Artists in Paris, Cernuschi Museum, Paris, and Second Nature during which sculptures by the artist were installed in the Parc Monceau
Eternal Smile, Solo Show, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong
Eternal smile, Solo Show, Galerie Magda Danysz, Paris, France
Eternal smile, Solo Show, Magda Danysz Gallery, Shanghai, China
Blooming in the Shadows, Unofficial Chinese Art 1974-1985, China Institute in America, New York, USA
Zürcher Studio, New York, USA
2010
La Chair des forêts, Musée Zadkine, Paris, France
2009
Wang Keping, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong
2008
Works from 1979-2006, He Xiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
2007
10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong, China (also 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006)
Duhamel Fine Art, Paris, France
Gallery Lasés, Paris, France
2006
10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Katie de Tilly Contemporary Artists, Hong Kong
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
2003
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
De Tilly-Blaru Gallery, Hong Kong, China
2001
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
De Tilly-Blaru Gallery, Hong Kong, China
1999
Galerie Jacques Barrère, Paris, France
Galerie de l’IUFM, Lyon, France
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
1997
Alison Fine Art, Hong Kong, China
Artist in Residence, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
1996
Etan Cohen Gallery, New York, USA
1995
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
1994
At Work Gallery, Chicago, USA
Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt, Germany
Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany
1993
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
Aidekman Art Center, Boston, USA
Chinese Modern Art Center, Osaka, Japan
1992
Salle Saint-Jean, Hôtel de Ville de Paris, France
1991
Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France
Galerie Leuenberger, Zürich, Suisse
1990
Galerie Zurcher, Paris, France
Monte Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
China Forum, Zürich, Switzerland
1989
Museum of Modern Art, Taiwan
1988
Galerie Thomas, Munich, Germany
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
1987
Art Waves Gallery, New York, USA
1986
Galerie de Graaf, Chicago, USA
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
1985
Galerie Gérard Laubie, Paris, France
Group exhibitions (selection)
2026
Embodied Forms- Galerie Dumonteli, Shanghai, China
2025
Sélection d’été/ À Première Vue, Galerie Loft, Paris, France
Vertiges Croisés, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Brussels, Belgium
Gillet et Compagnie, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France
2024
Sélection d’Été, Galerie Loft, Paris, France
Wang Keping et le corps représenté, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Brussels, Belgium
2023
Enfances, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France
2022
Monumental, Galerie Loft, Paris, France
2021
Art Contemporain Chinois, Galerie Loft, Paris, France
Inauguration show, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France
High Emission Zone, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France
2020
Bêtes de Scène – Espace Monte-Cristo – Paris
ASHK X HKAGA sculpture exhibition – Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Loft Selection, Galerie Loft, Paris, France
Art Paris 2020— Projets Monumentaux, Galerie Loft, Paris, France
Looking Forward, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris France
2019
The Naked Form in Modern Chinese Art – Asmolean Museum, Oxford
5th Collectors’ Contemporary Collaboration – Hong Kong Arts Center
Bêtes de scène – Villa Datris, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
La Source – Fondation Carmignac, Porquerolles
Of Dreams and Contemplation: Selections from the Collection of Richard Koh, The Private Museum, Singapore
La Lumière des Mondes – Domaine des Étangs, Massignac, France
Les Étoiles 1979-2019 – Pionniers de l’art contemporain en Chine – Maison du Voyage, Paris
STARS 星星 1979 – OCAT Institute, Beijing, China
Trésors de Banlieues – Halle des Grésillons, Gennevilliers
2018
Sea of Desire, Opening of the Foundation Carmignac – Porquerolles
BIS, Biennale Internationale de Sculpture – St Paul de Vence
Turning Point – 40 years of Chinese Contemporary Art – Long Museum, Shanghai, China
墨境 Ink Worlds: Contemporary Chinese Painting from the Collection of Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang – Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University
别处/此在:海外华人艺术抽样展 HERE/ELSEWHERE: The Sample of Overseas Chinese Art,何香凝美术馆 – Hexiangning Art Museum, Shenzhen, China
2017
Opening exhibition – Power Long Museum, Shanghai
2016
Face to Face : Regina Bogat, Wang Keping, Zürcher Gallery, New York
2015
Vide et Plein, Maison Bleu Studio, Paris 2013 Alix Le Méléder – Wang Keping, Galerie Zürcher, Paris France
Chinese Art (1974-1985), Chinese Institute in America, New York, USA
Artistes chinois à Paris, Musée Cernuschi, Paris, France
2008
Origin Point, The Stars 30 Years, Today Art Museum, Beijing, China
China Gold, l’Art contemporain chinois, Musée Maillol, Paris, France
Go China – Writing on the Wall, Chinese New Realism and Avant-Garde in the eighties and nineties, Groninger Museum, Groningen, The Netherlands
2007
China Contemporary Art: the long march of the Avant-Garde, Contemporary Art Museum, Genova, China Onward, The Estella Collection, Chinese Contemporary Art 1966-2006, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Copenhagen, Denmark
2005
Mahjong – Chinesische Gegenwartskunst aus der Sammlung Sigg, Kunstmuseum, Bern, Switzerland
The 2nd Annual China International Gallery Exhibition 2005, Beijing, China; Marlborough Gallery, New York, USA
2004
Body and Nature, Two Chinese artists, Marlborough Chelsea, New York, USA
Chine, le corps partout ?, Museum of Contemporary Art, Marseille, France
2002
French May, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
2001
Chine without borders, Goedhuis Contemporary, Sotheby’s, New York, USA
Salon de Mars, Galerie Lara Fletcher, Genève, Switzerland
2000
Le Corps morcelé, Fondation Daniel et Florence Guerlain, Les Mesnuls, France
Museum of Modern Art, Cheng Du, Chine
Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japon
WeiWei Gallery, Pékin, Chine
Portraits, Figures, Couples and Groups – from the MCAF collection, BizArt, Shanghai, Chine
CAAW, Pékin, Chine
1999
Les Champs de la Sculpture (1970-2000), Champs-Élysées, Paris, France
FIAC, Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
The Pu-Yeo International Modern Sculpture Symposium, South Korea
1998
Musée d’art contemporain, Stuttgart, Allemagne
Michel Goedhuis Gallery, London, UK
1997
National Museum of Art, Beijing, China
1996
Face à l’Histoire, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
National Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Ethan Cohen Gallery, New York, USA
1995
Centro de Arte Santa Mónica, Barcelona, Spain
1994
FIAC, Galerie Zürcher, Paris, France
1993
Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1991
Hommage à Camille Claudel, Villeneuve-sur-Fère, France
1990
Chapelle de la Salpétrière, Paris, France
Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, China
1989
Hanart Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
Hanart 2 Gallery, Hong Kong
The Stars-Group from Pékin, Albany University, New York, USA
Galerie du Forum, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
1988
Blue Hill Cultural Center, New York, USA
Hanart 2 Gallery, Hong Kong, Chine
1987
Cadogan Contemporary Gallery, New York, USA
1986
Painting The Chinese Dream. Chinese Art 30 Years after the Revolution, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Mass. et Brooklyn Museum, New York, US
Avant-Garde Chinese Art – Pékin/New York, Vassar College Gallery, NY, USA
1984
Carrefour de la Chine, Paris, France
1983
Painting the Chinese Dream – Chinese Art 30 Years after the Revolution, Brooklyn Museum, New York ; Massachusetts; Northampton Smith College Museum of Art, USA
1980
Deuxième exposition du groupe The Stars, National Museum of Fine Arts, Pékin, Chine
1979
Wild, Première exposition du Groupe The Stars, devant National Museum of Fine Arts, Beijing, China
Press
News
Monaco-Sculptures invites visitors to a unique experience: discovering a wide panorama of contemporary sculptural creation during an art walk in a dream setting. Take a walk with the major artists in Monaco.
Wang KEPING's sculpture "Little Woman" is on display at the 798 Gallery in Beijing. If you're ever in Beijing, go see it!
For the "Art Saint-Germain des Prés" event, Galerie Loft presents the group exhibition Contemporary Chinese Art.
Publications
0.00€