Liu Yefu focuses on video, drawing and mixed-media. Influenced by Asian folk culture, Liu is interested in the expression of black humor with a stream of consciousness style, playfully comments on the chaos and restlessness of social realities. By creating dramatic scenes, combined with carefully hand-made products in line with his fictional plot, Liu mapping the ideology and stereotypes brought by history, nationality, and memory. While blurring the boundary on the notion of region and time, his work demonstrates the core values and violent essence of the emergence of a modernization process serving the rule and national development.
Liu’s solo exhibitions including: John Lenin (Baltimore, 2023), Fool’s Paradise (Beijing, 2022), Hehemeimei, (Basel, 2021), No Easy Symbolism (Beijing, 2018), Episode 1 (Beijing, 2016). His recent works have been exhibited at 4th BIENALSUR (Virtual venue, Buenos Aires, 2023), 25th Gabrovo Biennial for Humor & Satire in Art (Gabrovo, 2022), Tai Kwun Contemporary (Hong Kong, 2019), Gene Siskel Film Center (Chicago, 2019), OCAT Museum, (Beijing, 2018), He Xiangning Museum (Shenzhen, 2017), Le Carreau du Temple (Paris, 2017), Ullens Center of Contemporary Art (Beijing, 2017), YUZ Museum (Shanghai, 2016), Kimberly-Klark Gallery, (New York, 2015) among others. Liu is the nomination of Han Nefkens Video production grants (Barcelona, 2022), Balois Art Prize (Basel, 2021), Huayu Youth Award (Sanya, 2016) and he is the finalist of Toby Devan Lewis MFA Fellowship (Baltimore, 2014).
Selected Exhibitions
2024
upcoming, Man, The Unknown, 10th Paris International, Paris, FR
Confluence, Area405, Baltimore, US
Launching a New Era, Yuan Art Museum, Beijing, CN
2023
4th BIENALSUR, Buenos Aires, Argentina
New Works, Presented by New Works, 2640 Space, Baltimore, US
John Lenin, Arting Gallery, Baltimore, US
Gallery Weekend Beijing, Public project, Beijing, CN
2022
25th Gabrovo Biennial of Humor & Satire in Art, Gabrovo, BG
Fool's Paradise, Magician Space, Beijing, CN
2021
Tangle of Revolution and Political Soul, SGA, Shanghai, CN
ART BASEL Statements, Basel, CH
Get High, Centre for Experimental Film, Online Screening
2020
ART BASEL Online Viewing Room, June19 - June 26, 2020
2019
Shards from the mirror of History, Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago, US
Performing Society: The Violence of Gender, Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong, CN
2018
NO EASY SYMBOLISM, Magician-Space, Beijing, CN
Frontier: Re-assessment of Post-Globalisation, OCAT, Beijing, CN
2017
Ecstacy of Time, He Xiangning Museum, Shenzhen, CN
The New Normal: Art and China in 2017, UCCA, Beijing, CN
UCCA X Wild Magic Salt Solution, UCCA, Beijing, CN
2016
You won't be young forever, 235 Guangfu Rd, Shanghai, CN
Overpop, YUZ Museum, Shanghai, CN
Episode 1, Magician-Space, Beijing, CN
2015
NO DICE (1), Kimberly-Klark, New York, US
2014
VOX X: Present Tense, Vox Populi, Philadelphia, US
Press
Gallery Weekend Beijing 2022: Exhibitions to See by Elaine YJ Zheng OCULA
Discover emergent voices at Art Basel
Diamond Stingily, Elaine Cameron-Weir, and Liu Yefu shine bright in the Statements sector by Elliat Albrecht
From Cigarettes To Sex Toys, Liu Yefu Finds Absurdity In Advertising by Tom Mouna
Liu Yefu and the Art of Cultural Assimilation at Magician Space by GJ Cabrera
Performing Society: The Violence of Gender, Art Forum China
Performing Society: The Violence of Gender, Post-ism
Gallery Weekend Beijing 2019 Review by Alice Bucknell
Shanghai Synergy by Richard Vine
Episode 1, Magician-Space, Beijing, Art Forum China
