Yue Minjun: Queens Museum of Art

Noah's Ark
2005
Oil on Canvas

Yue Minjun and the Symbolic Smile at the Queens Museum of Art is the first American museum exhibition of this leading contemporary Chinese artist.

Contemporary Terracotta Warriors
2001
Acrylic on Plexiglas Reinforced Plastic

Terracotta Warriors
2006
Bronze

These exaggerated, slightly larger than life size sculptures took me by surprise when I turned the corner. Yes, I jumped and squeaked. But the sculptures were very exciting to see, and stand next to, and mimic.

A young girl who who went to the museum with her family said of Yue Minjun's work, "He has weird teeth."

Untitled from the Beauty Series
1996
Oil on Canvas

Look at how strange his teeth are in this earlier work. The bottom row is small and undefined.

Untitled
2004
Oil on Canvas

Perhaps a reference to Eddie Adams' Vietcong Execution?

Untitled No. 13
2006
Watercolor

The watercolors were wonderful. It was good to see the pencil sketching underneath the paint.

Also on view: Generation 1.5, a phrase "to identify those who moved from their native country between the ages of 12 and 18." This exhibit featuring eight artists belonging to this in-between generation, "already subject to the physical and intellectual transformations of their formative years, now upon emigrating, also experiences a change in context, language and culture."

Yue Minjun and the Symbolic Smile on view until January 6, 2008
Generation 1.5 on view until December 2, 2007