
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Mixed materials (wood & copper) - Signed and numbered on the base; numbered on accompanying insert card // Surplus Value (Brown) by Yue Minjun is a mixed-media sculpture from 2019, crafted from wood and copper. The piece features a signature laughing figure with exaggerated expressions, characteristic of Yue’s satirical work. The figure’s wide, almost comical grin is both a symbol of joy and a critique of societal conventions, blurring the line between humor and irony. The copper dish placed atop the figure’s head adds an additional layer of meaning, possibly referencing the commodification of human emotion or value. The warm brown tones of the wood give the sculpture a rich, polished appearance that contrasts with its playful expression.
Surplus Value (Brown), 2019
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19 x 19 X 14.5 cm
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Details
Artist
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Mixed materials (wood & copper) - Signed and numbered on the base; numbered on accompanying insert card // Surplus Value (Brown) by Yue Minjun is a mixed-media sculpture from 2019, crafted from wood and copper. The piece features a signature laughing figure with exaggerated expressions, characteristic of Yue’s satirical work. The figure’s wide, almost comical grin is both a symbol of joy and a critique of societal conventions, blurring the line between humor and irony. The copper dish placed atop the figure’s head adds an additional layer of meaning, possibly referencing the commodification of human emotion or value. The warm brown tones of the wood give the sculpture a rich, polished appearance that contrasts with its playful expression.
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What is appropriation?
Appropriation in art involves using pre-existing images or objects with little or no modification. This technique has played a significant role across various art forms, including visual arts, music, performance, and literature. In visual arts, appropriation refers to the practice of adopting, sampling, recycling, or borrowing elements—or even entire forms—of existing visual culture, integrating them into new works to create meaning or critique.