Leo Gallery: Originally your work is mainly based on painting. Now the "New Idol" series include not only painting, but also manuscripts, installations, sculptures, industrial metal materials, neon installations, etc. Why do you create with such a variety of materials?Zhao Yiqian: Manuscript is the beginning of the whole series. It records the image from its birth to the formation process. The image of "New Idol" is created step by step by manuscript, computer 3D modelling, casting, and other methods of modern technology. The process includes different levels of diversity and humanity as well, bringing it from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. By transforming more technologies and materials, I can make the viewer feel more surrounded and echoed by the inner feelings in order to create works through multi-dimensional materials.
Leo Gallery: What are the challenges of creating with multidimensional materials? Zhao Yiqian: When creating, it is most difficult to abandon what I was good at. I have never designed a frame of art for myself. For example, many artists in history have not confined themselves to one kind of art, as talents like Picasso and Matisse are the ones who care about constantly creating and changing themselves. Artists must constantly explore, and the greatest charm and responsibility of art is to create new things.
Leo Gallery: Is the thinking brought by "New Idol" the core of your artistic philosophy?
Zhao Yiqian: The core of the creation of "New Idol" is also a way of my thinking: from time to space to religious rituals to the discussion of spiritual faith, this is the growing path of an artist. It implies an artistic way of thinking, as the use of tools, media, and technology are come afterwards, which makes the work more precise and moving.
Leo Gallery: "New Idol" includes a classical religious image and a trendy idol image, as well as a smiley symbol that has repeatedly appeared in your paintings. How do you think about these elements?
Zhao Yiqian: Smiley represents a characteristic of popular culture in the current era of consumption. The combination of classical religious image and trendy idol image brings reflection on the lack of faith in the current commercial society. The core of art is to create value. Fashion, classical elements, symbolic mixing and superposition, and misappropriation are a creative context. I hope that it looks like a very simple work, but there are many kinds of support behind it, and many of the content is hidden behind it. This is my thoughts and cognition on artistic creation.
Leo Gallery: The "New Idol" series is about the exploration of religion and belief. From the image point of view, the classical monumental base brings a sense of ritual too?
Zhao Yiqian: The new idol installation is a monument that creates a solemn and witty ritual in a space. The work is presented in a surrounding field, just like we are in a church: the zenith light, the colourful glass with paintings, the ancient organ, the row of chairs, and the slight candlelight on the side give you a sense of ritual. But if any of these elements is lacking, you will feel that the space is empty. The presentation of the work in a particular space is intended to make the work more intense.
Leo Gallery: You say that you are an artist that goes "against the trend". How do you understand this? How do you see the current trend?
Zhao Yiqian: At the moment when the trend of commercial consumption is overwhelming, everyone is being held hostage by business. We will be superimposed by many things. The trend that everyone is pursuing today is only weak and looks cool but behind it is in fact empty. I maintain a counter-trend mentality in order to find a feeling and society that is more humanistic. We must not only have a formal trend, but also have to go to a farther history and future to explore the issue, in order to make the present more valuable.
Leo Gallery: Is this the deep meaning behind the whole series?
Zhao Yiqian: Imagine in another 50 years, for example, AI technology will realize the state that all people do not need to work any more. What is the value of people by then? When you have no creativity in this society, it is terrible. What is your cognition? What is the meaning of living? So I am rethinking whether the rituals, beliefs, philosophy, and art of the past are more valuable? Leo Gallery: Seemingly relaxed but heavy thoughts come with it.
Zhao Yiqian: It is a challenge to make the most relaxed state particularly heavy. Art is when we go to perceive the future, prepare for the future, and questions it. Art can't give an answer. Art is just a hypothetical question.
Leo Gallery: This series also has different religious images in China and the West. How do you think about it?
Zhao Yiqian: Actually, there is no specific kind of belief, every kind of belief has its meaning. I believe that there is a beam of light that shines on us, for us to maintain dignity and keep restraint at all times. In the current society where the original religion has no way to satisfy all of us any more, do you need a new idol and a new vision?