Wu Shaoxiang was born in 1957 in Jiangxi Province, China. Having only received ongoing formal education until he was twelve, Wu was sent to work on a farm to lay bricks and saw wood for rafters. It was only when he turned twenty-one did he begin his career as a sculptor.
From 1978-1982 Wu studied sculpture at the Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute, then left to work at the China National Design Association in Beijing for two years. From 1984-1987, he pursued postgraduate studies under the sculptor Professor Zheng Ke, at the Central Academy of Arts and Design, now the Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. An important figure in China's New-Wave art movement, Wu won the first scholarship awarded by the city of Beijing, and was named one of the "Ten Most Influential Chinese Avant-Garde Artists" by Fine Arts of China (the most important magazine at the time for modern art published in China). After graduating with a master's degree, he spent a year teaching as a professor at the school. In 1989, Wu and his sculptor wife, Jiang Shuo, and their three-year-old son immigrated to Austria, where the couple established a joint studio. Since then, Wu has exhibited extensively in America, Asia, and Europe. His works are also widely collected by museums and prestigious institutions worldwide.
Wu's work first caught the attention of the public through several modern abstract sculptures, which were commissioned for several locations, including a Beijing park, the Theatre of the Chinese Association of the Arts, and the Central Academy of Science. In his early stage as a sculptor, Wu was influenced by Western modernism. His "Outcry Series" created during the mid-1980s resembled the stylistic representation of sculptors such as Arp and Brâncuși, and also the artistic method of Chinese impressionism. This series was noted at the time for their abstract presentation of the female body, and representation of sexual consciousness. It was made mainly of cast copper, which was polished to diminish the strength of the material, creating a smooth and luminous tactile experience. Such work indicated the lack of exploration in sexual themes in China, establishing Wu as an artistic pioneer at that time.
Wu was also an active participant in the Chinese modern art circle. He wanted to provide greater international exposure to Chinese art, and avidly explored and incorporated contemporary ideas in his works. In this sense, he was much bolder compared to his more conservative and conventional contemporaries who were hesitant in addressing sexual themes. As a result, he helped to begin a new chapter in modern Chinese art history.
While in Austria, Wu believed that the European country possessed a more liberal environment that could allow him the freedom to artistically express himself. He attempted to detach himself from the art movement in China, but found it a challenge. This made Wu feel like a foreigner towards his home country, and in the country he now inhabited. Thus, it would become inevitable for Wu to return to his identity, however, he would do so whilst keeping a global perspective. Some themes he explored included the concept of Yin and Yang – which relates to Chinese philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine.
Living abroad allowed Wu to become more familiar with the relationship between art and commerce. He also witnessed what he felt were the detrimental effects of globalization on art. He noticed that during museum visits, the artists he respected as important voices of change were commercialized and degraded to brand names, as their creations were reproduced on all types of consumer products.
The development of his past work along with a greater awareness of consumer culture would enable Wu to create his "Coin Series" in 1991, where he used coins as a medium for sculpting. For example, Apple, made up of 45,000 Austrian shilling coins, is recorded in The Guinness Book of Records in 1995 as the first and biggest coin sculpture in the world.
He uses coins to produce interpretations of both Western and Chinese sculptural forms, including Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Bill Gates, the Greek Goddess of Love, Venus, the logo of McDonald's, and a can of Coca-Cola. This would allow him to convey a strong social message, and to establish his individual artistic signature on the international art stage, earning him prominent recognition.
In 2001, for his first solo exhibition in the United States at Plum Blossoms gallery in New York - Coining MOMA, Wu Shaoxiang rendered with wielded coins his own representation of the permanent collection at The Museum of Modern Art, for example works from Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, Aristide Maillol, and Jasper Johns. In doing so, he was indicating that enterprises such as MoMA were increasingly driven by business, carrying out nationwide publicity campaigns and reproducing famous works on gift items for sale in museum shops. In effect, they had reduced artistic images to commercial images.
In his latest work, the "Walking Wealth" series, Wu continues to explore the theme of wealth and modern consumer culture, though this time using a new form of innovative sculptural representation - life-sized human figures made out of bronze-cast US dollar notes. With their unique body language and presentation, these anonymous figures are amusing commentaries on mankind's seemingly immense hunger for monetary fulfillment. Wu once again demonstrates his talent in incorporating form and concept in novel and remarkable ways.
Selected Solo Exhibitions and Projects
Two and Three Dimension, joined by Chen Xiaoyu, Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, China, 1985Sculptures, Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China, 1987Dream, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1988Sculptures and Paintings, City Hall Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1990Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Akzent K, Stuttgart, Germany, 1991Sculptures, Gallery d' Art Teroema, Florence, Italy, 1991Apple, Messe Palast, Vienna, Austria, 1991Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Burg Montendorf, Salzburg, Austria, 1991Sculptures and Paintings, Raiffeisen Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1991Joint exhibition with Jiang Shuo, Culture House, Knittelfeld, Austria, 1991Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Nemenz, Judenberg, Austria, 1992Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Zentrum, Graz, Austria, 1993Sculptures and Paintings, Europe House, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1993Recent Sculptures, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 1994The Art of Coining, Hanart Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan, 1995Sculptor, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong, 1996Wu Shaoxiang-New Works, Gallery Kolly, Graz, Austria, 1996Wu Shaoxiang and Jiang Shuo, Gallery Zentrum, Graz, Austria, 1997Wu Shaoxiang and Jiang Shuo, Shellanda Company, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997Wu Shaoxiang, Gallery Daghofer, Leoben, Austria, 1998Blander and Wu Shaoxiang, Funda Gallery, St.Veit/GL, Austria, 1998Wu Shaoxiang, Gallery Dida, Graz, Austria, 1999Red Memory, Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 1999Sculptures and Paintings, Salzburg Art Fair, Salzburg, Austria, 1999Sculptures and Paintings, Gallery Synarte, Klagenfurt, Austria, 2000Coining, AAI Gallery, Vienna, Austria, 2001Wu Shaoxiang and Jiang Shuo, Schloss Wolfsberg, Wolfsberg, Austria, 2001Coining MoMA, Plum Blossoms Gallery, New York City, USA, 2001Sculptures and Paintings, Schloss Gabelhofen, Fohnsdorf, Austria, 2003Chase, Linda Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2006Chase, Linda Gallery, Singapore, 2006Jiang Shuo and Wu Shaoxiang Exhibition at Songzhuang Museum, Beijing, China, 2007Jiang Xi Province Art Exhibition, Jiang Xi Revolution Museum, Nanchang, China, 1981National Art Academy's Drawing Exhibition, China Art Academy, Hangzhou, China, 1981New Works from Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute, Jingdezhen, 1982Ceramics Museum, Jingdezhen, China, 1982National Sculpture Exhibition, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1986Works by Young Beijing Artist, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1987Contemporary Chinese Fine Art, Toronto Exhibition Hall, Toronto, Canada, 1987Excellent Chinese Urban Sculptures, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1987Tradition and Modern - New Sculptures, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 198730 Years The Central Academy of Arts & Design, Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China, 1988Avant-garde China, China National Art Gallery, Beijing, China, 1989New Expressionism in China, China National History Museum, Beijing, China, 1989Joint exhibition with Svetnik, Velden Art Centre, Velden, Austria, 1990Packaged Art, Bündner Art Museum, Chur, Switzerland, 1990International Art Exhibition, Stadgarden Gallery, Norden, Germany, 1990The Spirit of Times, Gallery Hinteregger, St. Pölten, Austria, 1993New Trends Art Hong Kong, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 1994Tresors Singapore, World Trade Centre, Singapore, 1994Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, presented by Plum Blossoms Gallery, Hong Kong, 1994Art Asia, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong, 1995Budapest Art Expo, Budapest, Hungary, 1995Table for Two, LKF Gallery, Hong Kong, 1996The Collector's View, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, 1996The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 1997Contemporary Austrian Painter, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong, 1997The International Contemporary Art Fair, Palace Degli Affari, Florence, Italy, 1998Contemporary Austrian Painter, The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong, 1998The International Contemporary Art Fair, Los Angeles, USA, 1999Chinese Figure, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, 2000The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2000The 20th Century Art, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2000Goedhuis Contemporary, London, United Kingdom, 2000The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2001The International Pavilion of Palm Beach, Art Palm Beach, Florida, USA, 2001Salon de Mars, Geneva, Switzerland, 2001The International Asian Art Fair, Lincoln Art Centre, New York, USA, 2002Configurations, Plum Blossoms Gallery, New York, Hong Kong, 2002International Biennial of Contemporary Art Austria, Hüttenberg, Austria, 2002The International Asian Art Fair, The Armoury, New York, USA, 2003Sculptures, Elizabeth Weiner Fine Art Gallery, Santa Monica, California, USA, 2003ArtSingapore 2006, Singapore, 2006Shanghai Art Fair 2007, Shanghai, China, 2007ARTSingapore 2007, The Contemporary Asian Art Fair, Singapore, 2007Art Beijing 2007, Beijing, China, 2007China International Gallery Exposition 2007, Beijing, China, 2007Spring, Bin River Park, Beijing City Government, Beijing, China, 1986The Four Feelings, China Association of letters and Arts, Beijing, China, 1987The See of Knowledge, Central University of Finance, Beijing, China, 1987Masks, Beijing International Hotel, Beijing, China, 1987Bath, The Central Academy of Arts and Design, Beijing, China, 1987Victory, The Revolution Monument, Shijiazhuang City, Shijiazhuang, China, 1988City Symbol Sculpture, Luzhu City, China, 1988Meditation, Europe Sculpture Park, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1988Family (fountain), local government, St Veit/Glan, Austria, 1989Gentle Breath, Austrian National Bank, Vienna, Austria, 1990Dancing Spirit, Stroh Centre, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1990Sitting Girl, Treibach Sport Centre, Treibach, Austria, 1991Heavenly Dog, Hardy Collection Museum, Pörtschach, Austria, 1991Turning Figure, Karnten State Culture Council, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1991Apple, National Bank, Vienna, Austria, 1992Hand (Fountain), Köck Villa, Velden, Austria, 1992Telephon, Gallery Akzent K, Stuttgart, Germany, 1992Inner Movement, DAF Aichwalder, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1993Flutist, House Hinteregger, St, Pölten, Austria, 1993Turning Figure, City Government, St.Veit/Glan, Austria, 1993Window, Raiffeisen Lands Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1993The Seed of Jade, RBB Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1994The Great Venus of 20th Century, Wing on Art Collection St. Paul, De Veuce, France, 1994Head, Klagenfurt City Gallery, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1994The Great Venus of 20th Century, New World Centre, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 1995The Moon, Renaissance Hotel, Hong Kong, 1995Winged Source (fountain), Ford Sintsching, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1995Banana, Hanart Gallery, Hong Kong, 1995Gentle Breath, New World Hotel, Shenzhen, China, 1995Family (fountain), Starmann Company, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1996Enjoyable (fountain), County Attendant Centre, County Government, Moosburg, Austria, 1996Torso, Schwarzneger Art collection, Los Angeles, USA, 1996The Moon, LKH 2000 Sculpture Park, Karnten State Government, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997Gentle Breath, Björn Borg Collection, Stockholm, Sweden, 1997Coin, Control Bank, Vienna, Austria, 1997Venus, RBB Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997Sepe, State Icehockey Hall, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1997Goddess, Leoben City Government, Leoben, Austria, 1998Venus, RBB Bank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1998Cloud, Villa Borovnik, Ferlach, Austria, 1998Goddess, Beijing Silver Tower, Beijing, China, 1998Mao, Venus From British Museum, Crow Art Museum, Dallas, USA, 1999Head From Gugenheim, Karnten State Government, Austria, 1999Man On Peach, Hypo Landesbank, Klagenfurt, Austria, 1999Fountain, Villa Ried, St.Veit, Austria, 2000Deng Xiaoping Souvenir Badge, Wadsworth Collection, New York, USA, 2001Patrick, Schloss Pakein, Grafenstein, Austria, 2001Circulate, Volksbank Karnten Sud, Klagenfurt, Austria, 2001Pomegrante, Barmherzigen Bruder Hospital, St. Veit, Austria, 2001Harmonious (fountain), Ebental District Government, Ebental, Austria, 2002Harmonious (fountain), Wolkensberg Foundation, Klagenfurt, Austria, 2002Torso From Louvre, RBB Bank Spittal, Spittal an der Drau, Austria, 2002Clouds VI, Celebrity Cruises, Miami, USA, 2002Head From British Museum, Bowl, Torso, Cyber Club, Hong Kong, 2003Family III (fountain), Singulus, Umag, Croatia, 2003Coining MoMA- Brâncuși, Tree, H.M.Z. Foundation, Fohnsdo, 2003