Ah Xian wins $50K Clemenger for "Concrete Forest"

Ai Xian first came to Australia in 1989 and after 'discovering porcelain' has worked largely on busts and full-body sculptures that have been decorated with traditional Chinese elements often realised under his meticulous directionon his sculptured forms by highly skilled Chinese artisans, most often from Jingdezhen, a centre for ceramic production since the Ming period. His work was soon exhibited in important groups shows and he came to particular prominence when he won the inaugural National Sculpture Prize at NGA 2001. Last year he had his first one man show in Europe in 2008 at the Gemeente Museum, Den Haag, Netherlands.

As well as his porcelains he has also made carved lacquer and elaborate whole body cloisonné enamels on beaten copper underforms. Commentators on his work, noting the internal oppositions between form and content, and between traditional Chinese and western practices, in his work and the resemblance of the decoration to tattoos, have evoked the hand of indelible cultural imprints viewed afresh from a western art-production context. Xian himself has stated “when you’re away from China, you have a clearer picture of the country and its culture.” Collectors, both State and private have been keen to acquire his work (A bust, "Human Human (Bust 5)" sold for a record $A150,000 this August).

Read the rest at Arts Hub
The Age

This guy makes some really creative and amazing moulds.  Here's some of his other work