Shan Fan

Artist

"As an artist I have to ask myself how I can change the society for the better. I am against every form of revolution and any other dramatic change. The only way to improve the society we live in is to change the way that people think. The best change is the one that remains imperceptible, so that nobody even notices that it has taken place. I believe in the soft, quiet and slow change as the only form of change which can transform our society into a better one. My philosophy is expressed through the symbolism of bamboo, which features prominently in my art. This plant is characterised by enormous elasticity – when exposed to pressure or strong wind, it bends without ever breaking."