thanks Plip, Minibear and James!

to Minibear - super kind words - thanks much!
to Plip - yes. zhao has tried a lot of variations, including printing on a thick tube to have it wrapped around, the warhol multiple is something he's working on now (hence the unconfirmed release date - as we'd like to release these specials together). the current variants is the one he's most happy with as it has more "resonance" aesthetically.

to James - totally understand how you feel about the "roughness". zhao makes everything very roughly and by hand (even the screens are handmade!), we've advised him many times to have them professionally printed, which would cost less, take less time, and possibly look a whole lot sharper and more accurate, but he refused. maybe one day.... :/
as for the message - it's everything and nothing. the soldier had it coming, or was it re-active or pro-active? the viewer decides everytime he/she looks.

no it's not seen on the streets of Singapore. because it's against the law. Is all we are going to say on that subject. hope you understand!


 

hi james,

we agree with you. we are trying our darnest to not be pretenders.
but we need longevity too, and this really isn't our day jobs (obviously!) and we know people who have been caught and have had very close brushes.
we nudge forward in own careful ways.
we see ourselves as the "bravest chickenshits" in the world.
hopefully, one day things can be easier.
till then, keep commenting and wish us luck!

thanks amboguy! it's getting a little easier and less harsh. Sticker Lady (our latest high profile vandal, got off with community service) - but the word is still very much...don't test their wrath!

as for the piece, sorry about not doing anything for you... hope the feeling changes and grows... it took a while but it did for some...

you're right swamped.

it's too simple and rough.

that's the impression one of us got and was quite vocal about it too. too simple to invest in a such a large ed with such a large piece of (expensive) paper.

ah well.... such is life.


thanks for not hating it!

I found myself reading and re-reading this thread, just trying to figure it out. "highlyframable" writes as if he's not Zhao but as someone who has immediate access to Zhao and his/her intentions and ideas. So strange.

And the print: it's an interesting image, but the piece feels overwrought the moment it's placed in a historical or philosophical context. And the single color print doesn't work in my opinion, if for no other reason than because the helmet disappears, so the soldier's head looks...funny.

The reason people change their names in this ''business'' is because they break the law, not becuase its cool.

Honestly man, make a decent name for yourself with thought provolking, powerful, images, either on or off the street before going ''hey I've got a new editions of screen prints to sell you all''.

Thanks for the response. Best of luck to you (and co) on the release!

HISTORY i-xii
One of 12 originals.
Prints and originals to be released on 1 August THURSDAY 4pm BST, 11am EDT, 11pm Singapore.

thank you.

Up!

Haha. I like them. Love Yue Minjun so this is the next best thing

Nice work great price for canvas originals.

Yes. Johnnyh. You're right about the knock-offness of these.

It is a fakey of a fakey.

Despite all the fake smiles he's made, Yue MinJun isn't really unhappy, maybe?

A fake frown?

There is joy in there.

Fucks your mind up somewhat staring at these things. Because the smile is still there.It flickers. Ever so often.

Anyhoo I've seen them in the flesh, and they are not big, (and yes) shabby and quite precious looking.

getting one, johnnyh?

oh no.. not again...

ok. here we go...

nothing's original. not banksy's rats, not warhol's screenprints, not even hirst's er... everything he's ever done ever, ever(?)

i think that is the point of the piece (see zhao's quote above) - art IS theft. Steal it from the pompous and rich, consume it and f**k it up. why the heck not? fakes have a great f u power to the man.