Liu Ruowang, born in the mid 1970s, has a solo exhibition at China Space Gallery. This large gallery is tucked away from the main streets of 798. Unlike many Chinese contemporary sculpture artists, he does not draw his influence from Western art, rather his works echo Chinese classical art.

The Horse the Carriage Guard is one of his most iconic pieces. The soldiers are from the modern Communist army but they strongly resemble the Qin Emperor’s Terracotta Warriors. The uniforms might change through the generations but the idea of power and unity remains the same.

The Horse and Carriage Guard

The monumental Wolf Coming is an awe-inspiring installation that is currently on display in Originality Square in 798. In this work, the people are literally larger than life. Although the figures are heroic, they are ordinary people. They are not high ranking officials, generals of armies or historically recognized names. Liu Ruowang makes the ordinary, extraordinary.

Wolf Coming installation made from cast iron

Yin Shuangxi, an art critic, states that it is significant to see the revival of the image of the HERO in Chinese contemporary art linking directly to the people’s developing self-confidence.

Close up of the wolves

I agree. The older generations focused their works on the suffering of the Chinese, like the popular Cynical Realism movement. Now that China is a world power, you are beginning to see heroes emerge in the Chinese art scene.

8000 Miles of Clouds and the Moon
The Guardian 24 hour in pictures