The "Big Flower Basket" series represents a new creation distinct from the A Comic Book of America series. The inspiration for this series comes from iconic urban landmarks found throughout various cities in China. Starting from 2019, as I engaged in exhibitions and social art activities, I embarked on a new round of travels across different regions of China. While conducting on-site observations, reflections, and documentation of the current social and human environments in China, I came across a fascinating phenomenon.
In many cities, particularly in the squares, there exist landmark giant flower basket structures. These flower baskets, illuminated by the strong sunlight during the day and bright lights at night, exude radiance and vitality, captivating observers. The composition of these flower baskets shares common elements: red bases, flower pots, and trays filled with brightly colored flowers, sometimes surrounded by vivid real flowers. The trays are adorned with extremely vibrant giant flowers, and in some regions, local fruits or fruits symbolizing traditional Chinese meanings are also incorporated.
The entire big flower basket is vibrant, lively, and full of vigor. In traditional Chinese culture, similar flower baskets are typically used to visit hospital patients, conveying wishes for their speedy recovery, or in opening ceremonies to wish for prosperity in business ventures. When I encountered these giant flower basket sculptures, especially on fine weather days, they were often surrounded by crowds of people eager to take photos with them. Initially, I thought these flower basket sculptures were established to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2019, and were a nationwide social phenomenon. However, even now, these flower baskets continue to serve as iconic architectural landmarks in various cities.
The events following the 2020 pandemic made me personally realize the ironic significance behind these big flower baskets. While their existence primarily symbolizes expressions of love for the motherland, hopes for the nation's prosperity and strength, and pursuits of peace and development, the stark reality reveals widening wealth disparities and the struggles many face for survival. A sense of resignation, aimlessness, hedonism, and various misguided sentiments of resentment continue to permeate through the younger generation. In my creative process, I transform these big flower basket sculptures into my own imagery, integrating them with local landscapes or representative buildings, scrutinizing them within the same frame as a portrait.
大花篮系列是不同于美国连环画系列作品的新创作，这个系列的灵感来源于遍布在中国的各个城市的同类城市地标性景观建筑。从2019年开始，由于自己进行展览和社会艺术活动，我开始了新一轮的中国旅行，地点遍布中国的各地区。在实地观察、思考和记录中国当下的社会环境和人为环境的同时，自己观察到了一个非常有趣的现象：在很多城市，一般都是广场的区域，都会有一个地标性的巨型花篮建筑，白天阳光和黑夜的强烈灯光照射下，花篮看起来熠熠生辉，栩栩如生。花篮的组成会有相似的地方，都是红色的底座、花盆、花篮托盘，有的时候底座周围遍布着颜色鲜艳的真花。花篮托盘上面一遍都是由颜色极其鲜艳的巨型花组成，部分地区托盘上面有当地的水果或者中国传统意义上的不同寓意的水果组成。
整个大花篮颜色鲜艳，富有朝气，充满活力。在中国传统文化中，类似的花篮一般用在看望医院的病人：祝福他们身体健康，早日康复；或者用在开业典礼中，预祝生意兴隆。我见到的巨型花篮雕塑周围，天气好的时候，往往都是人群攒动，人们争相和花篮合影。起初我以为这些花篮雕塑是为了庆祝2019年新中国成立70周年所建立，并且遍布全国的社会现象。但是直到现在，那些花篮依旧在各个城市作为地标性建筑所展示。
从2020年疫情之后所发生的事情，让我亲身体会到这些大花篮所存在的讽刺性意义。这些巨型雕塑的存在寓意主要是表达对祖国的热爱、对国家的繁荣富强的期望以及对和平与发展的追求，色彩鲜艳，彰显了国家的荣耀和希望。但是实际上整个社会贫富差距加大、很多人们都在为生存所挣扎、躺平情绪、无目的、享乐主义、各种错误的仇视情绪等持续在年轻一代蔓延着。在创作的时候，我将这些大花篮雕塑变成我那种的意象，让它们与当地景观或代表性建筑相结合，在同一张竖放肖像一般的场景中，对它们进行审视。
