Excerpt from Pace Beijing's press release provided by Liu Jianhua:

'Beginning in 2008, Liu Jianhua started to shift the theoretical focus of his artistic creation away from sociological interpretations and towards the development of his own unique conception of what he refers to as “quiet aesthetics.” In his recent work, the artist avoids the distracting noise of a superficial reality, watching calmly and rethinking thoroughly his view of society, the cultural environment and the human spirit from a distance.

(...)1.2 Meters presents a constant feeling deeply woven into people’s daily life. This piece utilizes iron wires as its medium, re-appropriating these mundane connective tools by elevating their utility from the anonymous materials of mass production to the precious status of rarefied art objects. Iron wires have been transformed and expanded from a kind of relatively violent material into a clearing where elegance and danger co-exist, opening a new perspective and the possibility of refreshed analysis and judgement.

The era of information overload also poses the threat of cultural homogenization. In response to the pervasive current psychological state of people, trapped in an unthinking addiction to rapid development and technological innovation, Liu Jianhua tries to awaken a traditional spirit through his artistic creation. He provides a kind of reflection and introspection that is independent of any popular value and interest, a re-interpretation of individuality and spirituality in contemporary times.'