Sun Xun

Artist Bio

Juxtaposing the traditional techniques of hand-drawn animation with new media, Sun Xun, a Chinese artist born in 1980 recently risen to critical acclaim in Hangzhou and internationally. While attending the China Academy of Fine Arts, he started off learning the art of print-making, but he soon developed an intense interest in moving images that led him to found his own animation studio in 2006.

Sun Xun produces a multitude of drawings that incorporate text within the image for his animation. And his subjects range from elements of world history and politics, to natural organisms. He then films the drawings, sequentially to create a sense of movement and suggest the passing of time, the machinations of history, and the beauty inherent in simple forms. (Evil Monito Magazine)

From Interview:

I established my own animation studio in 2006, but I don’t think animation needs to be my only medium. In my opinion, all things can be related to animation—it can connect to any other tool or genre. Animation is not in itself an important thing; in a way, it’s like history—it shows only the most external thing. In actuality, animation is always incomplete. Only by striving to break through other limitations in other media can I reach the most precious aspects of animation. I will try anything so long as I think it will yield interesting art. But I also think art is not the only culminating purpose; it is not an end in itself. Rather, it illuminates our history—not only the history of China but also the history of the world. There is culture behind art. So the artist plays an important role but will never play the primary role.

Discussing this subject, an artist’s self-judgment is vital. Today, Chinese artists are likely to be seen as representatives of China in the world. It’s good that China and Chinese artists are concerned about our role, but it is what we do that is important. Being concerned can’t be our purpose. It is obviously hard to create works about China, because the subject—the target you aim at—is powerful enough on its own. Art’s attempt to address such a large topic as China is like waging a revolution on civilization fought one by one. Success is always uncertain. Probably artists will fail again and again, because art is a dream that emerges from an accumulation of continuing failures. But this dream will have irreplaceable value forever. (ARTFORUM)

Sun Xun at ShanghART Gallery

Sun Xun at Corkin Gallery