Gao Yuan

Gao Yuan conveys narratives through digital animation and painting, infusing them with surreal and dreamlike elements.

Biography of Gao Yuan

Gao Yuan was born in 1986 in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. Notably, both of Yuan's parents were painters, and their home was adorned with a Western art collection. In this environment, Gao Yuan developed her painting and drawing skills.

Although her initial interest was in the study of literature, Gao Yuan eventually found herself drawn to animation, especially 1990s Japanese animation, as she realized its potential to seamlessly combine her passions for art and literary storytelling.

Gao Yuan recieved her BFA in Animation Arts from Communication University of China in 2009. 

The artist has presented her work in solo exhibitions, such as "The Omen" (2019) and "Eternal Return" (2017), both at Capsule Shanghai in Shanghai. Additionally, Yuan's pieces have been featured in various group exhibitions, including "The Belonging of Plants" at Juanzong Cabinet in Xiamen (2022), "A Room of HER Own" at How Museum in Shanghai (2020), "Field Meeting Take 6: Thinking Collections" at Asia Contemporary Art Week (ACAW) in Dubai (2019), and more.

Gao Yuan's animations have earned recognition at prestigious film festivals, including the Locarno Film Festival: Pardi di domani in 2020, the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2017, and the Hong Kong International Film Festival in 2018 and 2017. Her animation piece, "Lunar Dial," was nominated for the Tiger Awards for Short Films at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2017 and received a Special Mention from the Jury at the CutOut Fest International Animation and Digital Art Festival in 2016.

Currently, the artist lives and works in Beijing, China. 

Gao Yuan's Art Style

Gao Yuan's primary passion is in creating animated films, which are the outcome of an extensive, multi-year process involving painting backgrounds and frames, digital animation production, and scriptwriting.

While bearing a painterly style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films, Gao Yuan's creations possess a unique philosophical depth.

Gao Yuan's paintings and drawings serve as the foundation for her films. When assembled, these static frames weave the storyline of a film, yet each frame possesses the autonomy to stand as a unique work of art. Each piece conjures emotions, evoked by the ambiance and familiar sentiments of urban settings and the temporal context of the scenes.

Regarding style, Gao Yuan's creations exhibit remarkable consistency. They blend realism with distinct cartoonish elements, characterized by sharp lines and vibrant colors. In terms of content, they span a spectrum from the surreal to the everyday, offering a diverse range of experiences.