At present, I am engaged in the exploration of the theme of the trauma of the Russia-Ukraine war. I pay more attention to the relationship and influence between human history and contemporary events, presenting a shorthand between traditional and personal narratives.
The internationally renowned curator and art critic Sandra Miranda Pading mentioned when seeing my collection of colored sketches: “Overall, Liao Wan-ning’s work reflects a profound understanding of the ambiguity of human emotions and their interaction with the surrounding world. She expresses her views and impressions in such a genuine and honest manner, unafraid of the art world’s insistence that art is an objective reality. She explores complex, contrasting relationships, moments where joy and pain coexist with equal intensity, a silent yet distinct backdrop, and surrealist narratives that emphasize the emotional isolation of contemporary individuals. Although her art is visually harmonious in color and composition, her works pose existential questions to the audience.”
I wish to use sketches and minimalist colors to reflect the harm war inflicts on humanity. Bright and vibrant colors have clearly lost their beauty; it’s all black, nothing but black. Black becomes the most direct color for expressing sorrow, sadness, oppression, and despair. Just like Spanish master Francisco Goya in his series depicting war and suffering, he also abandoned color in his works. Goya believed that light, shadow, and darkness could more directly convey the truth. He wrote: “Art does not need color. Give me a crayon, and I can’ paint ‘your portrait.” His use of lines was not to outline shapes but, according to art historian Anne Holland, “to carve out shapes and then split them, creating distorted visual fragments as if seen through half-closed eyes, trembling at the edges of what is hurriedly seen… The clarity of this’ figure’ is clearest when it is most uneven.” This direct approach aligns with his desire to express the raw side of human nature.
Liao Wanneng April 12,2025
