As a "post-80s" artist, Zhang Yifa tried to combine modern people's reflection on the times with traditional Chinese elements, with the help of the arrogant hero of "Qitian Dasheng Sun Wukong", let the traditional culture "tide up", led to the "Sun Wukong Whirlwind", and also made his name often compared with Joan Cornella, Javier Calleja, Yusuke Hanai, becoming the leader of domestic POP Art!
Zhang Yifa's father, who grew up as a stone carving, knocked and beat, shaping the pieces of stubborn stones into works of art, which also provoked his artistic spirit, and showed a high degree of artistic and literary talent from an early age. He is familiar with all kinds of heroic novels, such as: Hou Yi Shooting Day, Xue Rengui Zhengdong, Yang Jiajian Yanyi, Fengshen Yanyi, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin.... Among them, his favorite is Journey to the West.
When he was a child, he read comics, but because of his young age, he could not fully understand the meaning. When he grew up, he read it repeatedly, and when the familiar story of his childhood turned into a concise text appeared repeatedly under his eyes, with repeated intensive reading and thinking, he finally understood that Wu Cheng'en used mythology to sharply satirize the contradictions of society at that time and the aspirations of the people's hearts; it coincided with the connotation that he wanted to express the meaning of the times with his works! "After 400 years of time and space, Wu Cheng'en and I have collided with the same spark in the field of art, which is a really amazing feeling." 」 Zhang Yifa cherished his amazing spiritual connection with Wu Cheng'en.
[Fenghou] This work represents the sanctified Sun Wukong, although the achievements are extraordinary, but the average person is still far away, still lonely; [Heart Blossom] Although this work is still wearing a traditional coat, the clothes of the Superman are faintly exposed, it seems that Sun Wukong wants to be a superman; [Qi Tian Dasheng] This work is replaced by Superman, compared to the first two sets of clothing, this dress seems more familiar! Sun Wukong really became Superman, a Sun Wu with a traditional Peking Opera face
The three works are exactly the ideas that Zhang Yifa wants to express in his reflection on art; [Fenghou] represents the early art, although it has a high achievement, but because of its lofty status, it is not easy for ordinary people to understand, approach, and is a high cold distance; [Heart Blossom] represents modern art, which has been integrated into Western thought, and the artist's creation has begun to have a sense of mission for society, but it is still impossible to get rid of the burden of tradition; [Qi Tian Dasheng] refers to contemporary art, which should be fully understood by people, no longer have a sense of distance, and have full affinity. Moreover, it must have a sense of responsibility and contribution to society; all three works always maintain the traditional Peking Opera face, implying that no matter how East and West are integrated, they cannot blindly imitate the West and detach themselves from the characteristics of national culture.
Contemporary art has been impacted by Western ideological trends, ushering in great changes in artistic creation; from the original expression of self-awareness, to the desire to seek understanding, to the most popular contemporary humorous reflection of popular art; Zhang Yifa's Sun Wukong has connotations, is easy to understand, and witty and full of meaning, and of course has become the most successful representative of contemporary Pop Art.
Zhang Yifa and Spain's Joan Cornella, Javier Calleja, and Japan's Yusuke Hanai, all belong to the contemporary Pop Art leaders, their common denominator is that they are good at expressing reflections on society or the times with superficial artistic forms, high-speed technology makes it very convenient for us to do anything, if art is to resonate, of course, it must combine the characteristics of modern people: simple, straightforward, witty, and stalked; but there are still few artists who can lead the way. The ultimate key lies in whether art can show meaningful connotations, this connotation must be deeply experienced by the artist, and then use the works to communicate and discuss with people, if the connotation expressed by the works can cause many recognitions, that is to affirm his works, his artistic achievements!
Zhang Yifa's works have the significance of the times and resonate with contemporary people, and his simple and humorous sculpture has become the leader of Pop Art in China, laying the status of the king of pop art with Cornella, Javier Calleja and the same name! After the 80s, his explosive power to enter the world in the future is bound to soar!