Human has not occupied the centre stage in the recent history of China, the senses of grandiose and heroism have been more important. So in my painting I try to show more humanity, because that is what has been lacking in China. The People I represent are ordinary people, they are like anti-heroes, and I am just showing their reality. During our childhood we lived in a certain environment, and then it changed so quickly, there is so much difference between the ideal and the reality. Who can I believe? I cannot believe in any ideal anymore, I just believe in the experience of reality.


        —Extract from Liu Xiaodong, Redflag Collection, Map Book Publishers, Hong Kong ,2006





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