1995 – Present
These paintings were inspired by my childhood memories when the circus or Chinese opera troupe visited my town. These were the first forms of entertainment that I was exposed to. In the travelling circus performances in China the acts were heavily based on the power of Qigong, which is basically a combination of medicine, martial arts, and philosophy. Later when I was in the army we would encounter these performances from time to time.
When I stated this series, I was thinking about the congruence of these shows as entertainment and their violent subject matter.
Excitement Sideshow – Qi Gong, 1995, oil on canvas, 106 x 89cm
Excitement Sideshow – Qi Gong, 1997, oil on canvas, 112 x 96cm
Excitement Sideshow – Qi Gong, 1997, oil on canvas, 16 x 92cm, Collection of Robert Wilks, Melbourne Australia
Excitement Sideshow – Qi Gong, 1997, oil on canvas, 116 x 92cm
Self Portrait, 2003, oil on canvas, 160 x 140cm, Collection of Dr. Thomas Berghuis (Guggenheim Museum New York’s Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Curator of Chinese Art.)