Wangchao, is a graduate student at the Hangzhou campus of the China Academy of Art majoring in traditional Chinese painting. Though he has a background in traditional painting, Wang often experiments with the medium of animation. Working with pencil and pen he hand draws his images and later adapts them to animation. His themes explore a changing China, from the rural townships to the vast cityscape, exploring the complexity of a developing nature and human potential. He is currently working and studying in Hangzhou.
“For me, art is not created to fill a void in a gallery space; rather it is a deeper understanding and contemplation of everyday reality. My work is an expression of my daily confrontations. It is as much his interpretation of society as it is a personal contemplation of human nature. One’s status in society determines whether you will be prosperous in respect, wealth and even rights. Some people will use others to gain what they desire as they progress on their way to the top and others will accept their lack of any political and social rights and remain in their subordinate position. They are faced with little choice, and choose only to continue and to survive. They have little understanding or need for politics or economics and live mostly to provide for their family. They accept their fate of labourers. It is the lives of these men and women that deserve to be venerated.”
Videos by the artist
Shudra
Experimental animation, frame-by-frame, hand-drawn charcoal and pencil drawings, 4’37’’, 2007
The title of Wang Chao’s work Shudra is borrowed form the term applied to the lowest of the four Varnas (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishy and Shudra) applied during post-Vedic India. Shudras were essentially rural labourers whose role was determined to serve the three higher-ranking Varnas taking the position of slaves, servants and bonded labourers.
The Golden Age
Experimental animation, frame-by-frame, hand-drawn charcoal and pencil drawings, 5’12’’, 2008
Based on a particular period referred to as the “Golden Age,” the stone, newspaper, chimney, theatre gate and train these images in sequence have little link other than to give reference to the expectations, false promises and facade of the period referred to in the film. Wang Chao aims to dissolve the allusion of ‘glory’ and ‘gold’ that is promised, and in place of his abandonment of falsehoods shines the age of the unknown and unrestrained future.
Avalokitesvara
Experimental animation, composed of frame-by-frame shooting of hand-drawn charcoal and pencil drawings, 6’24’’, 2009
The video opens to the "Heart Sutra" with the intention of reminding people to observe themselves, or “Guan Zi Zai” as it is explained in Chinese and the title of work. The compassion of bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara is an underlying theme throughout the video. The image of the deity appears in the manifestation of Guanyin, prompting people to live moderately. It is the wisdom and experience of our ancestors who have left us an earth to ponder and a culture to observe, but remind us to keep perspective of our immaterial existence.
Wangchao, is a graduate student at the Hangzhou campus of the China Academy of Art majoring in traditional Chinese painting. Though he has a background in traditional painting, Wang often experiments with the medium of animation. Working with pencil and pen he hand draws his images and later adapts them to animation. His themes explore a changing China, from the rural townships to the vast cityscape, exploring the complexity of a developing nature and human potential. He is currently working and studying in Hangzhou. 
