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| Eight Questions for.. Wang Guangyi |
| By Lynn Zhang |
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  ang Guangyi, one of the pioneers of China's political pop movement and one of the nation's most influential artists, is standing in the doorway. The lawn in front of his suburban studio, is crowded with Cultural Revolution statues - more than a dozen rust-colored young men and women, striking revolutionary poses. They appear to be guarding the grounds, or shouting out to the neighbors, "Wang Guangyi works here. Beware!"
This afternoon, however, Mr. Guangyi appears relaxed in his studio. He is smoking a cigar. His hair is long and a bit disheveled. He is wearing a dark, loose-fitting shirt, light pants, white sox and a pair of worn, black leather shoes. He sits down on a sofa, crosses his legs and agrees to answer "Eight Questions," with the editor, Lynn Zhang.
Art Zine: What are you working on now?
Wang Guangyi: I'm doing something different now. I've used famous brands in my work for a long time. But from this year on, I won't use any of these brands in my work. I used these famous brands because I thought brands had a big influence on China. But now, as time goes by, I think that influence is diminishing. And now, art has more and more influence on society.
Art Zine: Who were your earliest influences in art?
 Wang Guangyi: Andy Warhol and Joseph Beuys [the German conceptual artist 1921-1986]. Andy Warhol gave me some ideas. He showed me that anything can become a work of art. Maybe, the more simple a thing is, the easier it can become art. Beuys gave me the idea that art shouldn't be pure art; it should be connected to the real world. In fact, there is no pure art.
But artists, whether they're from the west or from China, aren't really that important to my work. What's most important for me is people.Maybe this sounds very abstract but it is true for me. I once said, "I complete my work by people's hands." But now, I think my creations are not only by people's hands but by their brains. It's not important for me who is a famous artist. People are the most important thing for me.
Every time, when the art critics and journalists ask me questions, I always say, "People think about this matter or that matter." Huang Zhuan [the Chinese art critic] makes fun of me about this. He once said, "Guangyi has the mirage of power." It was a joke. But I do think I'm called upon by the people to paint. I just use my hands to finish what they think about.
 Art Zine: What mediums are the most interesting for you to work in?
Wang Guangyi: This is difficult to say. I usually get tired if I work in one medium for a long time. I work in canvas as well as installation and video. When I'm working on an installation, I never do the work in my studio. I only do the draft in my studio; then I go to the museum or gallery to finish it. For me, I never think of an artist only working on canvas or sculpture. I think, "What kind of medium can show the works the best?"
Art Zine: What are your working habits?
Wang Guangyi: Every day after lunch at home, I drive to my studio and work there til 7 or 8 p.m. Another one of my work habits is I never listen to music. It should be totally silent. I always think of myself as a factory worker. It should be totally silent. When my friends come by, they ask, "Why no music?" But I don't like music while I'm working.
Art Zine: What direction do you see Chinese contemporary art world going?
Wang Guangyi: Now, Chinese contemporary art works sell very well. I don't think that is a very good thing. But I can't say it's a bad thing either. The most important thing is to make a foundation for the culture. This has nothing to do with business. Art should be built on our history and our culture. And from this sense, business is very harmful.
 I just think the auction market is not very good for the art world. It's too commercialized. It's a short term phenomenon. Artists cannot control it. What I can control is my own work. Since last year I told my gallery that only professional collectors would buy my work. I won't sell my work to non professional individuals. All artists are concerned about where their art works go. Some people just want to trade art works. They see art works as commercial goods. Although art has the character of goods, it's not only that; it's something more than that.
Art Zine: Where do you want your works to go?
Wang Guangyi:I think 60 to 70 percent of my work should have a very good place to go. It should go to foundation or an art museum. I want the public to have a chance to see it.
A couple of days ago, a friend who works in museum in China came to me and asked, "How much should we pay to have your work?" "This is not about money," I said, "If you put my work in an exhibition hall for 20 years to allow people to see it, I'll just donate it. But if you give me 100 million renminbi and put it in warehouse, then I'm not interested."
Art Zine: When you're coming up with a new idea, what things do you look to for inspiration?
Wang Guangyi:I feel that artists create art totally by chance. What art eventually relates to is the society that artists live in. You live and work in society and you see and feel things. These are all mixed together in your mind to give you the inspiration. My art is always related to society. I can't explain it well but that's the truth.
 Art Zine: If you could be in another profession, which would you choose?
Wang Guangyi:I never thought about doing anything else. I loved painting when I was a boy. It's just like every art history book says, "The artist loved painting when they were young." I also think my fate was to be an artist. Both the most intelligent people and the dumbest people can do art because there's no exact standard for art. You also can't say right or wrong about an art work. So, art to be precise, contemporary art is fit for me. Traditional art is not right for me because it has very strict rules. I can't do things that can be proven right or wrong. Film is not fit for me. It needs cooperation. I'm not fit for teamwork. I just want to do what I want to do; it's not right or wrong.
In short, a lots other kinds of wisdom are not fit for me. But the kind of wisdom that becoming a contemporary artist should have is what I have in mind.
Related Links:
·Artist Profile: Wang Guangyi
·Visual Polity: Another Wang Guangyi 
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