Gao Yu

The central character in Gao Yu's paintings is a demonic looking panda called GG, that is described by critic Lee Ambrozy in That's Beijing magazine as "sassy" and "self-flagellating." More than just China's national symbol, Gao's panda is quite the opposite of the docile creature you find in the zoo. As he says, "With the friction between Eastern and Western cultures, the panda is the most irresponsible way to introduce Chinese culture to the West. It's the most extreme way to make a unilateral exchange. Many years before, when Westerners discussed China, they could only think of Tian'anmen, pandas or the Great Wall--the most superficial sides of China." Born in 1981, Gao exemplifies the Pop sensibility of China's emerging painters. This engagingly designed volume includes a die-cut section that features an in-depth exploration of GG's internal organs, complete with stickers. It also includes an interview with Lee Ambrozy.