Neon Light collection - Warhol Mao's Gen

Media: Neon Light

*Reproducing this project for gallery and museum exhibitions is possible.

When I was an undergrad sculpture student at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, I made some chairman Mao's sculpture. But my professor, criticize me, he said " you are not the generation of Mao, why you keep using his image, he's not relevant to you". However, I told him, I grew up by seeing Andy Warhol's Mao paintings, and he broadens my eyes about propaganda idols. I grew up in a time when the new generation is trying to rethink history. We are trying to break away from the old ways of thinking, and looking at things from a different perspective. Warhol's paintings helped me to see that propaganda is not always what it seems. It can be used to manipulate people's thoughts and feelings.

Mao was a controversial figure, and his image is still widely used in propaganda today. By creating a sculpture of him, I wanted to start a conversation about how we view historical figures. My professor's criticism showed me that there is still much work to be done in terms of how we think about history. But I am confident that the new generation will continue to challenge the status quo and create a more inclusive view of our past.