Chen Wenling is an artist well known for his highly distinctive sculptures which often feature a pig or other animal serving as a grotesque commentary on modern consumerist society. Though his sculptures are highly refined in terms of fabrication, his style is undeniably raw; he pulls no punches in his criticism of over- consumption and greed. Nevertheless, there is also a comical undertone apparent in much of his work.
Chen Wenling’s sculptures usually involve some level of interaction between humans and animals. The anthropomorphic technique that the artist often employs allows him to attach human characteristics and expressions to animals, while at the same time he regularly endows humans with animalistic tendencies such as the gluttony of a pig or the ferociousness of a dog. In switching the roles of animals and humans, Chen Wenling encourages the viewer to evaluate modern day consumerist lifestyle from a detached perspective. True to form, the present lot, Ride to Freedom, is a comical yet searing criticism of consumerism and greed in contemporary capitalist society. The bull represents Wall Street, and the Superman figure atop the bull is none other than US president Barack Obama holding aloft a torch similar to that held by the Statue of Liberty. The Bull is propelling itself and its rider through the air with the aid of flatulence. The Chinese “放 屁" (fang pi) means to fart, but is also slang for lying or espousing a ridiculous notion. Chen Wenling’s message here is fairly apparent and requires no further explanation. His personal attitude towards greed and hypocrisy in modern society is clear. However, while the message may be serious, in typical Chen Wenling style the mode of communication is unquestionably comical.