Jiang Shuo facts for kids

Jiang Shuo (Chinese: 蔣朔; pinyin: Jiáng Shuò) is a talented Chinese artist born in Beijing, China, in 1958. She is well-known for creating amazing sculptures. Her art often explores themes about her home country, China, and its journey through history.

Bauhinia Rider, a sculpture by Jiang Shuo, located at MTR Lok Ma Chau Station in Hong Kong, 2010.

About Jiang Shuo

Jiang Shuo was born in Beijing, China, in 1958. She began studying sculpture at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing in 1978. She was one of the few women to study this art form at the time.

Jiang Shuo studied with Professor Zheng Ke for three years. She became the first woman sculptor in China to earn an advanced art degree. From 1986 to 1989, she taught at the same school.

In 1989, Jiang Shuo moved to Austria with her husband, Wu Shaoxiang, who is also a sculptor, and their young son. They settled in Klagenfurt, where they opened an art studio together.

Later, in 2006, Jiang Shuo opened another studio in Beijing. As her art became more popular, she opened a studio in Berlin in 2012. Today, Jiang Shuo shows her sculptures all over the world. Her works are displayed in countries like Austria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Switzerland.

Her sculptures are also sold in art galleries and at auctions in places like Beijing, Hong Kong, Austria, and New York. Many of her artworks are part of important private and museum collections. Jiang Shuo and her husband now divide their time between Austria, Berlin, and Beijing.

Early Sculptures

Jiang Shuo's early sculptures were made from bronze. They had a charming, folk-like style. These artworks became famous in China before she moved to Austria in 1989.

These early sculptures often show happy childhood memories. They feature innocent children playing sports, making music, or hugging their mothers. These artworks suggest that Jiang Shuo values family very much.

Famous Later Works

Red Guards - Going Forward! Making Money!, a sculpture by Jiang Shuo from 2004. It was shown in the lobby of Langham Place Hotel in Hong Kong.

Another view of Bauhinia Rider at MTR Lok Ma Chau Station, Hong Kong, 2010.

Jiang Shuo became very famous for her "Red Guard" series, which she started in 2003. These sculptures show figures wearing the uniform of the Red Guards. The Red Guards were a group of young people during China's Cultural Revolution.

These sculptures are made using an old method called lost wax. The figures often hold a red flag or The Little Red Book. These artworks show Jiang Shuo's own experiences as a young Red Guard. They also show her thoughts on how China changed as it became more focused on business.

In 1993, after her family became Austrian citizens, Jiang Shuo visited China again. She saw many changes happening. She noticed something interesting: the Red Guards, who once criticized people for being "bourgeois" (meaning focused on wealth), had now become successful business people. They were helping China's growing economy.

As Jiang Shuo continued her work, her Red Guard figures began to change. For example, in sculptures like Cloud Rider - Terracotta Red (2008) and Run 2 (2006), the figures no longer carried The Little Red Book. Instead, they were shown with modern items. They sang karaoke, drank Coca-Cola, ate McDonald's, or rode fancy cars. These artworks reflect the lives of wealthy business people who enjoy a life of luxury and modern goods.

See also

• Wu Shaoxiang
• Cultural Revolution
• Red Guards