Jiang Peng

When the Cultural Revolution (1967 – 1976) swept across China, Jiang Peng was a little boy; his experience was totally different from that of adults. Artists of Jiang’s generation are nostalgic, constantly looking back with complex emotions toward their childhood, and youth. Sometimes they seem narcissistic, or self-pitying, but most of the time they ridicule the world and history or sneer at themselves with some sadness. The happiness and joys of their childhood are enveloped in the absurdity of the “Revolution.” 

  For every Chinese who went through the “ Revolution,” all remember the movement called “Destructive Pests.” At that time, the whole country strove to kill every pest, even birds, and all kind of insects in order to save grain. Of course, all children and students became involved into that movement. For days, students needn’t go to school; instead, they chased after rats or flies, or any bugs in their city or in the countryside.

Jiang Peng’s bugs are big, memories of the fun and happy times of his childhood, but you can be sure they all died, whether good or bad - mostly the good - killed by the little people who wore the red scarf with a toy gun or knife or sword, the Young Pioneers (an organization before the Little Red Guards).

Jiang’s world is beautiful and absurd at same time, a world of bright colors - orange, blue, green yellow – which is both naïve and fun.  The dead bugs - larger than life ladybugs, bees, caterpillars, worms - indicate not just life’s mystery and happiness, but also life’s inevitability and cruelty. His little people are strange; their faces, seemingly old and serious, are still those of children. Through innocence mixed with cruel killings, he reveals the twistedness of human nature.

  Jiang’s art is pure and innocent; smart and fun. He bring you back to your childhood, no matter if you are Chinese or not, had been in the “ Revolution” or not. Like Miyazaki’s anime, his human stories have a greater subject beyond them; through them, he opens up  new channels that allow us to see more, think deeper. 

Perish Pests No.2 oil on canvas              170 x 150cm	Perish Pests No. 3 oil on canvas              170 x 150cm
Perish Pests No. 6 oil on canvas              170 x 150cm	send e-mail   or call  508- 375- 0428