Chen Wenling: What You See Might Not Be Real

I’m not sure what it is, but I’ve been mesmerized by this piece by Chinese artist Chen Wenling, entitled What You See Might Not Be Real. I have no idea how the title relates, but the piece is meant to depict a horned Bernie Madoff being pinned to the wall by a bull (representing Wall Street).

A larger image is available here (direct link).

Aside from the obvious financial overtones, I’m just amazed at how this thing is built, structurally. I keep wondering if it’s affixed to the wall in any way. Is more of the weight being displaced on the left (the wall) or on the right (the ground). And, let’s be honest, I’m pretty awed at the large cloud of gas emanating from the bull’s butt.

I was unable to find a Wikipedia entry on the artist, but was able to find lots of images of his other work. Fair warning: some of it is a bit NSFW. You can see other pieces via Google Images or Flickr.

Many of his other works I would classify as grotesque. Not necessarily in a bloody or violent way, but it’s the word that describes the sensation I feel when looking at some of his other pieces. The pig recurs a great deal, and my sense is that it reflects the artist’s thoughts on the growing consumerism taking over China.

But I’m also talking out of my ass. Maybe he just really likes pigs. I dunno.

His art may be difficult to peruse while at work, but it’s interesting (if disturbing) stuff. For whatever reason… I couldn’t get the Madoff/Bull piece out of my head and felt like sharing.

// Edit: Another piece, entitled The Suspense, is equally mesmerizing. A few Flickr images: 1, 2, 3.