"Ballet Revolutionnaire" is an iconic c-print color photograph by acclaimed Chinese Contemporary photographer Pan Yue (China, B. 1968) This photograph is unframed, measures 33.07 x 49.60 inches (84 x 126 cm)and is mounted on aluminum and is in excellent condition. This is edition 9 of 30.
Pan Yue's visually and conceptually arresting photograph consists of two contrasting images of the same ballet dancer elegantly posed in profile "en pointe", first dressed, then nude. However, in both images she waves a large machete above her head in victory as she remains poised and still. This image directly references China's National Ballet and the most popular dance they performed, that was critically acclaimed in China and abroad, "The Red Detachment of Women". In this dance, the ballerinas wore Chinese PRC uniforms and held rifles while wearing European point ballet shoes, a true conflation of East and West. Pan's photographs are known to reference famous European paintings and cultural arts that the Chinese have appropriated in some manner. In this way the artist is able to explores gender roles in his native country, as well as the relationship of Western and Eastern art, culture, tradition and history. This photograph is one of Pan's most important photographs, and this is the first edition to ever come to auction, worldwide.
Pan Yue was born in 1968 in Beijing, China. From 1984 to 1988 he studied at the Central Academy of Fine Arts and from 1988- 1992 he formally trained at the No.1 Studio Oil Painting Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. In 1992 he was a Lecturer of Fine Art and Art History at the Landscape Architecture of Beijing Forestry University. In 2000 the artist moved to Europe to live and work, and studied as an artist in residence and teacher at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-arts, Paris. His photographs have been exhibited internationally since the 1990's at Museums and Exhibitions including his solo show in 2009: “Once, Red Star Over China: New Documentary Photography From Pan Yue,” Art Seasons, Beijing, China and Singapore. Recent group exhibitions include his 2010 travelling show: “Passing By China,” at Eli Klein Fine Art, New York, USA and Sanatorium, Istanbul, Turkey and in 2009 “Contemporary Chinese Photography,” Florida Museum of Photographic Art, Tampa, Florida, USA. His The 1994 "Invitational Exhibition of 100 Young Painters In Oil Painting", National Gallery, Beijing, China and again in "The 1993 Biennial Art Exhibition of China", National Gallery, Beijing, China.
