About the artwork
In the City Dreams series, Gao Xiaowu depicts corpulent figures that yearn to fly but are unable to get themselves off the ground as their tiny wings cannot sustain their weight. This work highlights the contrast between ambition and reality. It is a reference to the common man who will never escape the clutches of harsh reality, but still possesses hope that he will transcend the murky depths of society and attain a better future.
About the artist
Gao Xiao Wu was born in Sanming, Fujian province, in 1976 and currently lives and works in Beijing. He enrolled in the sculpture department of Xiamen Art Academy before continuing his studies at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing and graduating in 2004. Basing his work on the lives of ordinary people in the city, as well as an exploration of his own identity, Gao Xiao Wu's work has been shown in solo and prestigious group exhibitions and is included in high-profile art collections worldwide including the White Rabbit Collection, Australia; DBS Group, Singapore; Park Hyatt, Shanghai and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.