Artist in conversation: Pengpeng Wang

Pengpeng Wang, was born in 1991 in Heilongjiang, China. Ph.D. student in History of Art, Aesthetics, Languages of the Image at the University of Salerno. In 2011 he studied Industrial Design at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. During his graduation period, he attended the Visual Communication and Art Market Design course at Taiwan Nantai University of Science and Technology and Taiwan National Cheng Kung University. He moved to Italy at the beginning of 2016, studying Italian and Culture at the Dante Alighieri Society in Florence, and subsequently studied Visual Arts and New Expressive Languages at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, obtaining his master degree in 2019. He followed his second master in Cultural Planning, Art, Design, Cultural Enterprise at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Politecnico Milano in 2020. In 2019, he founded an international art company in Beijing.

Follow Pengpeng Wang here.

- Welcome to The Holy Art. Could you tell us a little more about your background, and how did you begin creating art?

First of all, thank The Holy Art for the interview opportunity. My name is Pengpeng Wang. I am from China. I currently create and live in Milan, Florence and Salerno, Italy. In China, I studied Industrial Design at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. In 2013, I received a national scholarship to exchange studies at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan. In Taiwan, I studied Visual Communication and Art Market. It was also the experience in Taiwan that made me sure that I need to go out of China and go to more countries in the world. So I came to Italy in 2016, and I currently have two master degrees in Fine Arts at the Florence Academy of Fine Arts (Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) and Politecnico di Milano. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in History of Art at University of Salerno (Università di Salerno), and my research direction is about the history and current situation between Asian contemporary art and the Venice Biennale. I thought that be an artists should have more experience, including academic experience, life experience, creative experience and so on.

- What art do you most identify with?

This is a very good question. I am looking for and trying different ways of artistic expression and artistic language. I don’t think that artists should be limited to one or a certain form of creation. In the contemporary art environment, each of us, is trying different art forms, whether it is a researcher of history of art or an artist himself. With the development of the global epidemic in 2020, let us see more artists create through media art, net art, virtual art, VR art and other new media material art language. Contemporary art skills are constantly evolving, just as “Fountain” by Duchamp in the 1917, this work broken the public's definition and recognition of art since the nineteenth century.

- Can you describe one artwork or series from your oeuvre that you feel was pivotal in your career? 

I have been completing a series of works called “I Miss You, Karl” since 2017. This series of works is a very important art project for me from the perspective of aesthetics and art market. The works have also been liked and collected by international art collectors. In 2021, I am going to hold two personal exhibitions with “I Miss You, Karl” in Milan, Italy and Nanjing, China.

- Which other great artists inspire you and why?

In my continuous study and attention to many contemporary artists, one artist has given me a lot of inspiration during my creative enlightenment stage, and she is the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. First of all, in her works of art, I saw “identity”, a ranking that is often mentioned in the art world. Since Yayoi Kusama moved to the United States in 1957, she tried to express herself in different ways. In terms of the acceptance of identity artists and female artists, it was difficult for Yayoi Kusama. It was difficult for her to integrate into the American art circle at that time, but after her continuous efforts, the world saw this female artist, pop art in the 1960s in the United States. In the wave of counter-cultural art, Yayoi Kusama completed "No. F" (1959), "Sex Obsession Food Obsession Macaroni Infinity Nets & Kusama" (1962), "Infinity Mirror Room" (1965), "Narcissus Garden" ( 1966), "Anatomic Explosion on Wall Street" (1968) and other works. The experience of Yayoi Kusama has allowed me to see who I am now. There are many similar artists of different nationalities and identities who are creating contemporary art works in various parts of the world. Yayoi Kusama is 91 years old, but she still maintains he enthusiasm for painting and creation every day. This aspect has also inspired me deeply. Art will accompany us throughout our lives.

- Can you talk about the process of creating your work?

As far as artistic creation is concerned, "love" and "passion" have always supported my creation. I am fascinated by the state of my creation. I also think that artistic creation is a kind of self-distribution for artists, and artists will actively pay attention to their creation at every stage. From the perspective of artistic creation, I personally sum it up to three points: the first is the emotional expression after one's own experience, the second is the focus on international social hot spots, and the third is the artist's repeated reproduction of known materials and forms. In my personal work, I have been creating creations around these three angles. Artists are an extremely sensitive group

- What advice would you give to emerging artists entering the art world?

When I was 23 years old, I was an art director assistant with a German gallery in Beijing. During my work, I met many young artists. With the development of international integration and the prosperity of the contemporary art market, we can see that many international art institutions are willing to provide opportunities for young artists to exhibit. Just like The Holy Art collects exhibition projects for various countries and regions in the world. The artists provide opportunities. I think this is a very positive direction. I see that many emerging artists are more focused on artistic creation, but neglect to promote themselves and their works through galleries, art institutions, and the Internet. Therefore, I hope that emerging artists can boldly participate in art exhibitions, cooperate with art institutions, and use the Internet. Promote yourself and your work. Artwork needs to be recognized by the public in circulation.

- What do you hope that the public takes away from your art?

There are many friends around me who are not artists or art practitioners. I often hear them express that they cannot understand contemporary art works. In fact, for the contemporary art work itself, the audience does not need to fully understand the artist's performance in the work, but more to understand the work based on the audience's own experience and experience. Now we have surpassed the period when art is used to convey the content of a single picture. There are many possibilities for artistic pictures and art forms. Art audiences can enjoy and immerse themselves in the embrace of contemporary art and feel the work of art itself. Bring fantasy, enjoy the value brought by artistic aesthetics, perceive them, like them.

- What is your dream project?

I have many dreams and I am on the way to realise them. I hope that through my knowledge and my works, the audience will be moved and concerned about contemporary art. As a Chinese artist in Europe, I also hope that through me and my team, I can strengthen the exchange of art and culture between different countries and regions. My biggest dream project is to realise my social value

-  Finally, are there any projects you are currently working on and able to speak about?

2020 was difficult for everyone. As we face the changes in the world every moment, we are also adjusting ourselves. In 2021, I will complete my doctoral thesis while taking care of both artistic creation and art projects. This includes my participation in the art residency project and the Divago Festival in Genoa, Italy. I have been working with the Divago Festival team for three years. This is an art festival about urban history and culture. At present, three personal exhibitions have been confirmed in 2021, respectively in Milan, Florence and Nanjing. We are determining the final time and works. Of course, it will also be accompanied by collective exhibitions, interviews, and publications in all over the world. In short, art makes me feel very fulfilled, and I am very happy to complete these tasks.