Shi Jinsong, through his medium of solid stainless steel, dissects the essence of life in the socio-cultural environment. Spurred by the resistance of humanity, Shi uses traditional craftsmanship as his approach juxtaposed against meaningful modernity and industrialisation in a mechanical society as symbolised by his choice of medium.The visual culture of contemporary China that Shi creates in his works is the mirror of the danger that comes along with the permeating force of globalisation.
Contradictions induce changes in all dimensions; through his metaphors, Shi shows us a new angle and perspective. The guise of protection in our present society is seen through the reality of socio-control of consumer goods in his work. His creations are inspired by fatherhood and Foucault’s Madness and Civilization; in turn illustrating the real perils of existence. This can be clearly seen in his work in which the baby, like Na Zha, the warrior, has to fight in order to survive and must be armed so as to face the competitiveness of the capitalist world.
Shi was born in Hubei Province, China in 1969. In 1994, he graduated from the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts, China with a B.A. Since then, Shi has exhibited in China 46, HuokeArtGallery, Shanghai, Taipei, and Melbourne, He Xiangning Art Museum and Sculpture Academy, Shenzhen, China, Shanghai Duolun Museum of Modern Art, Sanhe Art Center, Today Art Museum and Long March in Beijing, Chambers Fine Art, New York, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, Hangar-7, Salzburg Austria, Chengdu Biennale China and the Kunstmuseum, Bern in Switzerland. The artist currently lives and works in Wuhan and Beijing, China.