Emerging Artist Sun Yitian Explores Mass-Produced Chinese Items in His Work

Artists have a unique ability to transform ordinary objects into valued artworks, and Sun Yitian is no exception. The Chinese photorealist has gained considerable success over the past decade, with her paintings of mass-produced consumer goods such as inflatable penguins, Ken doll heads, and stiletto heels selling for up to six figures. Despite her market success, Sun remains focused on her artistic practice, leaving commercial considerations to her galleries.

Beyond the art world, Sun's work has made its way onto the side of Louis Vuitton bags, a honor typically reserved for established artists. Despite the difference in audience between the fashion and art worlds, Sun does not view the LV collaboration as part of her artistic career.

Sun's latest solo exhibition, opening May 2 at Esther Schipper as part of Gallery Weekend Berlin, presents a transformation of its own within her practice. The show features her largest body of work to date and includes several new paintings that incorporate religious symbols from Christianity, referencing China's copy culture, shanzhai, and its proliferation in the '90s. Some of these references may go unnoticed by viewers, especially in Europe.

One of the standout pieces in the exhibition is Sun's Image of Jesus (2024), which departs from traditional Western depictions of Christ. Sun drew inspiration for this work from the copies of Jesus's image she saw in her hometown of Wenzhou, where each church was plastered with posters of His image and phrases about God's love. In Sun's painting, Christ is depicted with a more youthful and contemporary appearance, as if he's had facial fillers.

Another work, Jingpin (2024), takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to Wenzhou's history of producing high-quality copies of popular shoes. Among the most iconic designs is a high heel that resembles a fish. Sun has added the Chinese translation for "high-quality product" to the inner sole of the shoe, as a nod to the increasing importation of Chinese goods to Africa.

Sun's practice is deeply influenced by her experiences growing up in Wenzhou, a city known for its shrewd business dealings and the production of light industry goods like shoes, lighters, and toys. She played in the factories where most of her classmates lived, and the city's diverse religions are also reflected in her work. Sun's doctoral studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing focus on the depiction of objects throughout art history, with a particular interest in the conceptual and philosophical dimensions of art objects. Sun's research is informed by the work of philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Martin Heidegger, György Lukács, and Jean Baudrillard, and she expects to graduate in approximately two years.

Though Sun's work remains deeply rooted in the depiction of everyday objects, her new exhibition looks closely at their trade and their relationship to human life. As Sun says, "This time, I talk about objects in the context of the whole world." The artist's approach to art and her academic work offer a unique perspective on the interplay between objects and their broader cultural and philosophical significance.

Sun Yitian's paintings, often featuring mass-produced consumer goods, have garnered significant attention in the art world, with prices reaching up to six figures.
Beyond the art world, Sun's work can be found on the side of Louis Vuitton bags, a distinction usually reserved for established artists.
Sun's latest exhibition, titled 'Gallery Weekend Berlin', showcases her largest body of work to date and delves into the relationship between objects and their cultural significance.
One notable piece in the exhibition, Image of Jesus (2024), deviates from traditional Western depictions of Christ, with a more contemporary and youthful appearance.
Jingpin (2024), another work exhibited, humorously engages with Wenzhou's history of producing high-quality copies of popular shoes and the importation of Chinese goods to Africa.
Sun's academic pursuits at Tsinghua University in Beijing focus on the depiction of objects throughout art history, drawing on the works of philosophers like Immanuel Kant, Martin Heidegger, and Jean Baudrillard, with an aim to graduate in approximately two years.