Man and Woman, Ink on Paper, 240cm×200cm, 2020

10th of March, 2020

The expression “genetically modified thinking” is about whether I think long-term consumption of genetically modified foods will constitute genetically modified consciousness, thereby changing life and habits in language and behavior. A British study stated that common genes in genetically modified crops have appeared in Chinese people. The conclusion is that this gene may cause long-term harm to the carrier’s health and is then inherited.

Of course, I am not only referring to these, but the “behavioral reality” of the current abnormal thinking. It is more appropriate to use the consequences of “genetically modified thinking” as the metaphor.

If genetically modified food is life-threatening, we can choose not to eat it or not to import it. What I am afraid of is that there is nothing I can do if I know that genetically modified food has caused harm. If we allow life to be right there and trampled over by genetically modified crops, isn't this the evil result of genetically modified thinking? In fact, things like this are contrary to common sense and are very prominent and usual in many fields.

Deviating from the “normal” thinking trajectory and making things achieve their goals in an abnormal result, this is “genetically modified thinking”.

Manuscripts

5th of July, 2020

A man and a bird were exposed on the calm water. The man stood up from the water in a suit, with the dripping water that permeated from the clothes. The bird fluttered and flew up above the water...

At the long table, the daughter said: “I have something to say, I want you to know that I am a lesbian.” Mother smiled and said: "You don’t look like that”, while the father looked strange. The daughter hesitated for a moment and left angrily.

The wife said to her husband: “I have something to say as well. I am having an affair.” After hearing this, the husband laughed, and the wife went on to say: “The affair is with your boss.” The husband laughed even harder, “Who can't you find? Electrician, milkman, etc., he is just a joke.” The wife said: “He has three testicles.” The husband hesitated: “Are you sure it's not a cyst or something else?” The wife stood up and walked to her husband, picked up the wine bottle and left angrily too.

Manuscripts

The teacher was teaching a class of students, and a big bird outside hit the glass window and fell to the ground. Everyone looked outside, some students asked the teacher, “Are you not going to deal with it?” At this point, a girl’s phone rang, and the girl hurriedly took the phone to turn off the ringtone. The teacher said to her, “You don't need to turn it off, just answer it, just stand up to answer the phone.” The girl stood up to answer and said: "I am in a class and will call you later."

The teacher paced back and forth on the podium.

These are a few of the movie clips I watched today.

Liu Jin’an

Born in 1957 and graduated from Hebei Normal University.

He is the Professor and doctoral supervisor of the College of Fine Arts, Capital Normal University, member of the Chinese Painting Art Committee of the China Artists Association, member of the Ethics Construction Committee of the China Artists Association, and planning committee member of the Beijing International Biennale. He is one of winners who were awarded the title of Third National Young and Middle-aged Literary and Artistic Worker with both Professional Excellence and Moral Integrity. He also works as distinguished professor of School of Chinese Painting at Central Academy of Fine Arts, researcher of China National Academy of Painting.

Selected Exhibitions:

2020 In Thinking—the Intellectual History of Methodologies of Chinese Contemporary Art, Guangdong Museum of Art

2019 Ink and Things: The Second Biennial Exhibition of Wuhan Ink Art, Wuhan Art Museum

2019 Collection of the First Hunan Chinese Painting, Hunan Art Museum

2019 The Duality of Nature: 2019 Xi'an Landscape Painting Invitational Exhibition, Xi'an Cui Zhenkuan Art Museum

2019 The 10th International Ink Art Biennale of Shenzhen, Shenzhen

2018 New Ink Art in China 1978-2018, Beijing Minsheng Art Museum

Image and Text Courtesy of the Artist.

Translated and Edited by Sue and Emily/CAFA ART INFO