Peng Yong
Chinese artist
Biography
Born in 1984 in Hunan province, in China. He graduated, in 2014, from the printmaking department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing with a master’s degree. Currently, he teaches in the design department of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts.
An emerging artist, Peng Yong has held numerous exhibitions, particularly in China and Australia, and is the winner of the Yishu 8 Prize, which rewards the young Chinese art scene.
Engraving work :
Born in south Jiangxi, a region where a long tradition of craftsmanship still continues and whose lessons he has not forgotten, Peng Yong renews the traditional practices of the engraver by means of a thorough analysis. In his embossed compositions in which he uses bright colors, the paper seems to possess an impenetrable depth.
This suggestion of a third dimension also applies to his paintings. His artful depiction of volume is obtained through the subtle variations of intensity of his color palette. Through the repetition of the masterful and flexible gesture of the engraver, Peng Yong takes advantage of the variations in color and the transitions in light to make the material appear: its relief and its flat areas. The pattern of the plates created for Faïencerie de Gien extends the color, yellow and blue, in a spectral manner and is part of what he calls a practice of self-relaxation, close to prayer and meditation.
Acknowledgements: Christine Cayol and Yshu-8
Q&A with Peng Yong
Why did you accept this free rein that the Faïencerie de Gien gave you to celebrate its 200th anniversary ?
saw this free rein as an opportunity for a new plastic exploration. It is an invitation to discover a new material, but also a new universe, which could enhance my artistic practice. So I accepted with pleasure.
What does the Faïencerie de Gien bring to mind, for you ?
When I discovered the history of Faïencerie de Gien, I understood the attachment to a 200 year old heritage, the richness of the collections and the innovative vision of this House which offers creative freedom to artists.
What was your inspiration for this collaboration ?
I drew my inspiration from the light, which constantly spreads from a point of source. I found that the trajectory of light was similar to the soul of the Faïencerie de Gien, which from the solid core of their past and a territorial anchorage, spreads their creations to the world and looks to the future.
How did you approach this earthenware/volume medium to express your art ? In other words, how did you integrate it into your artistic process ?
More than the material, it was initially complicated for me to understand a round surface. I ended up taking the plunge, repeating radical gestures, with varying degrees of amplitude, to create the motif on the rounded surface of the plate.
What have you learnt from this experience ?
This free rein was a real field of experimentation for my work. As I said before, the circular support enabled me to innovate by finding new processes of realization.I liked the absorption of my paint on the earthenware and the color effects produced. Thanks to this free rein, I will integrate these new artistic approaches in my future works.
