黄玉龙访谈：街头是我的生活方式，我在里面玩儿 HUANG YULONG | ARTIST INTERVIEW

The habit of wearing Hoodies originated in the US around 1930s. The hoodie gained its popularity as the Hip-Hop culture developed, becoming a symbol of youth culture and urban style. It can be said that when people think of hoodies nowadays, they think of Hip-Hop culture such as graffiti, skateboarding, and other street-culture related trends.

“

帽衫这一元素提取自Hip-Hop文化和这一群体的形象，是对勇敢、对抗、尊重、爱、和平的概括。把人物形象的面部去掉，是因为每一个人都是独一无二的，无法通过任何特定具体的人脸来体现。 

”

△ 启程 On My Way

铜 Bronze

35 × 35 × 35 cm

2017

Huang Yulong was born in the 1980s. Street culture is a symbol of this generation. While representing the character of hip hop culture, the artist introduces in his works elements of traditional handicraft and references to literary tropes of classical heroes: his artworks represent the self-cultural awareness, while also reflecting cultural clashes. 

Besides the tough and strong images of hoodies and skateboards, Huang Yulong's other series reveal a gentle and soft character. The Yueliang (Moon) series is inspired by a gift that Huang Yulong prepared for her daughter: "I want to make a gift for my daughter. This gift will be a bright moon hung in her room." With the support of Dr. Zheng Yongchun from the National Astronomical Observatory, Huang drew the "Lunar Highlands" and “Lunar Maria” on the surface of the works of Yueliang series. The choice of keeping the Chinese Pinyin of “moon” as the title of the series reflects the artist’s confidence and admiration for his own culture.  

In addition to the Yueliang series, the Snowflake series also represents Huang Yulong's call for love and peace. In response to a terrorist attack on the street, he used crystal to create gun shaped objects and then he combined them together to recreate the shape of a snowflake. The gleaming and transparent snowflakes convey a sense of calmness and tranquillity: through this work, the artist advocates a world with no violence or war. 

△ 雪花系列 Snowflake Series

Huang Yulong’s sculpture work PAGODA has been exclusively on sale at Parkview Green Art. The work also participates in the year-end Gift Exchange for Parkview Green members. Taking this opportunity, we talked with the artist about his creative process, to explore the story behind his work PAGODA and to delve into his latest creations in 2020.

P = PVG ART  芳草地画廊

H = HUANG YULONG 黄玉龙

Even before starting making sculptures, since 2000 I was interested in street dancing.

P：您作品中使用的陶瓷、青铜、亚克力等材料分别意味着什么？

I started to make sculpture with porcelain when I was studying in Jingdezhen. After I came to Beijing, I began to use bronze. For me, the importance of the material is related to the possibility to express my ideas and concepts. 

△ 初 Beginner

铜 Bronze

200 × 200 × 80 cm

2015

P：街头文化对您来说为何重要？

This is my way of life and I enjoy it.

P：您如何积累自己的原始素材？对您来说，它们更偏向潜意识，还是对现世的认知？

The materials I choose come from my life. I take inspiration from the things I come across with, without thinking too much. 

P：请与我们谈谈您在侨福芳草地的全球独家作品PAGODA（宝塔）。

PAGODA was inspired by a traditional porcelain sculpture I saw in Jingdezhen. The title of the work was "Huang An Stayed With the Tortoise for Nine Thousand Years"; the sculptor was known as "Dumb" by the people around, and he passed away years ago. I felt a strong connection with the work made by Mr.Dumb – I thought it was the most intense traditional sculpture I have ever seen. I was also looking for other works made by him in Jingdezhen. Out of my love for traditional craftsmanship, I selected the piece "Huang An Stayed With the Tortoise for Nine Thousand Years" and added my own ideas to the original work to re- elaborate the iconography and the texture of the sculpture. 

P：您如何看待艺术与商业的密切结合？

P：对您来说，个人与社会的理想关系是怎样的？

Just don't do bad things.

P：疫情是否使您的创作或生活发生变化？

The epidemic has indeed changed some of my habits. In terms of creation, I had much more time to think. I plan to continue to expand my artistic practice. Before, I was too laid-back. I didn't expect that there would be so much time to rest when the pandemic broke out. 

本文图片来自艺术家和芳草地画廊

photo credit to the artist and Parkview Green Art

黄玉龙，雕塑艺术家，他的作品把东方传统、象征主义与嘻哈美学结合在一起。作品系列有卫衣人、yueliang、雪花系列等。主要展览包括 “城市江湖：陈轩荣、黄玉龙双个展”，Art+画廊，上海，2018，“无-黄玉龙雕塑个展”，香港，2015，“时代精神：黄玉龙个展”，喜马拉雅美术馆，上海，2010 等。

Huang Yulong is a sculptor whose oeuvre of work combines Eastern tradition and symbolism with the aesthetics of hip-hop. Well-known series include Hoodie Series, Yueliang, Snowflake and so on. His main exhibitions include "Altered State of Reality: Deciphering Urban in the Art of Chen Xuan Rong and Huang Yulong", Art+ Shanghai Gallery, Shanghai, 2018, "NULL – Huang Yulong Sculpture Exhibition", Hong Kong, 2015, "Zeitgeist: Huang Yulong Solo Exhibition", Himalayas Art Museum, Shanghai, 2010, etc.