Yuumei

2/5/2013

Wenqing Yan, or better known as Yuumei online, is a Chinese-born digital artist and sculptor who currently resides in the U.S. She focuses a lot on environmental issues in the world, such as pollution and global warming. She also does some work on political issues. Yuumei is currently is working on a story/comic called "Fisheye Placebo" that is focusing around internet censoring and extremely tight internet security and how the system can falter and cause destruction and panic if broken.

Rise

"This image was inspired by a free Breadley Manning protest I participated in. We were a small group of about 20-30 peaceful protesters met by an overkill of riot police. We dissipated peacefully to avoid arrest but the image of facing against a roll of riot police remained in my mind."

A lot of her works are very beautiful and carry a lot of meaning with them. Her intention on most of her works, I believe, is to show in symbolic ways that we are slowly destroying our planet. She also shows in some pieces the corruption of society and the government. As stated in her comment in "Rise" she is inspired by real-world issues, and formulates those feelings into works of art that are both beautiful and meaningful. Even without knowing the story or meaning behind some of her pieces, they are incredibly colorful and inspiring.

 

Some of my favorite works of hers are inspired by the environmental issues in the world. She creates beautiful, yet somewhat terrifying creations that demonstrate how this world is being polluted, controlled, and rotting. 

Yuumei has mentioned a few times in her works about her time in China, and how the pollution and government are not exactly the best. She wrote a story/comic a few years ago inspired by her home country called "Knite" where students create these kites with lights attached to the strings the create the illusion of stars in the sky, because they are so rarely seen through the smog and pollution in the sky. It's a very powerful story.

           

Yuumei is also a sculptor, which is also really impressive. She sculpts incredibly delicate an detailed pieces. Some of her pieces are kind of creepy, but also almost peaceful looking as well with the muted colors and pure whites.

Yuumei is probably one of my favorite digital artists. She has inspired a lot of my own drawings I have done. Her use of colors and landscapes/cityscapes is fascinating. I own several prints of some of her works and met her about a year ago and I hope to meet her again. 

http://yuumei.deviantart.com/