Yu Youhan

signed in Chinese and dated 94, framed

Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong

Brazil, São Paulo, 22nd International Biennial of São Paulo, October - December, 1994, p. 17
France, Paris, Espace Pierre Cardin, Paris - Pékin, October, 2002, p. 236

The Paintings by Yu Youhan 1989-1998, Self Published, China, 1998, unpaginated

This work is in generally good condition. Minor wear and tear along the edge, especially around top two corners. A vertical grey color mark on the very left edge of the painting, which is believed to be the previous folding mark. There is also a crease on the lower left corner. Otherwise the work is in generally good condition. Please note that it was not examined under ultraviolet light.
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I borrowed a line from the speech Mao delivered in 1956 to Chinese students studying abroad in the Soviet Union, "the world is yours, you are the 8am sun in the morning, our hopes rest on all of you." The Chairman's hopes, however, were not aligned with these students'. I made this painting with an air of despondence. Mao was hoping that the youth would evade the snares of Western capitalism. These youths, in turn, young and impressionable, couldn't wait to embrace new concepts
and fresh ideas from the West. This is a historical paradox that brings me great sadness, yet I elected to use a bright red in the picture. I'm not sure if my viewers can discern the troubling subtext. Otherwise, my works will be no different from those of young artists working today.

- Excerpted from "The World is Yours – Interview with Yu Youhan" in Art World, July 2009