Xu Hongfei: President of the Guangzhou Sculpture Institute/ Member of the Chinese Artists Association. Xu in his studio. Photo by Nanfang Daily.
●Xu and his “Chubby Women”
When it comes to Xu’s sculpture, his ‘Chubby Women’ are some of his most iconic pieces: a series of sculptures portraying the women with big bodies going through daily life. In recent years, this series has met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Contrary to the traditional view that holds thinness as a symbol of beauty, the ‘Chubby Women’ demonstrate confidence, good humor and happiness. They are currently being exhibited around the center of Guangzhou and as a kind of embodiment of the Guangzhou spirit.
The Flying Piano exhibited at the Guangzhou Grand Theater in November 1st, 2016. Photo by Nanfang Daily.
In front of the R&F Center in Zhujiang New Town. Photo by Nanfang Daily.
●World tour
Since March 2013, the ‘Chubby Women’ have been on exhibition in 28 cities around the world including London, Paris, Hamburg and Sydney, which posed the question of whether people from different cultural backgrounds would appreciate Xu and his Chubby Women, however, these sculptures successively made audiences around the world laugh, some even imitating the postures and taking pictures with Chubby Women.
Xu’s sculptures exhibited in Melbourne.
When asked about why Chubby Women have gained so much popularity outside of China, Xu credited humor and joy as being a common sense of feeling shared by people all over the world, not subject to geographical restrictions nor language barriers. Wherever they are exhibited, happiness is all around.
Xu’s Chubby Women exhibited in Sydney. Photo by Nanfang Daily.
●Ideas and conceptions
As an artist, instead of immersing himself in his immediate successes, Xu always keeps his next piece or exhibition in mind. He is committed to being people-oriented, living in relaxation and joyful appreciation with his work. His works are mostly related to the daily lives of ordinary people and recognize the emotional value of citizens.
In terms of how Chubby Women came into being, he said he was inspired by the people living in Guangzhou, a down-to-earth city. Xu adheres to the idea that an artist can never indulge in empty talk about their creations without taking the background of the times into consideration.
Xu and his sculptures in the studio. Photo by Nanfang Daily.
Xu has an intense curiosity about life. Whenever he has a flash of inspiration, he will jump into action. When he was a student, he would sketch at the local market or railway station in Guangzhou, carefully observing all kinds of people passing by and recording individual moments, either ordinary or extraordinary. He says it was Guangzhou that gave life to his Chubby Women.
●Vision and future
There is no magic formula for creating art, there is only one path, persistence. Many Europeans have no idea of where Guangzhou is on a map when they read on a plaque ‘Xu Hongfei, from Guangzhou, China’. He said he would like to make Guangzhou known by more and more people worldwide.
Photo & Video: Nanfang Daily
English edition: Wing, Sylvia, December, Simon Haywood
