Amazing Laughter details by the amazing photographer, Dan Fairchild.

Yue Minjun’s incredible figurative installation entitled Amazing laughter has inspired some great responses from photographers.

Dan Fairchild, the official photographer of the Vancouver Biennale, has taken some of the finest shots of these pieces.

Here he’s playing with light on some of the detail shots of these individual pieces.

If you like what you see here please check out Dan’s amazing Flickr stream and stay tuned for more of his excellent work showcased here in the future.

Amazing Laughter Details by the amazing photogrpaher, Dan Fairchild.

Love this shot of the two hands folded in back to back.  So elegant.  Great lighting.

More about this sculpture:

Amazing Laughter Patinated bronze Yue Minjun (China)

Yue Minjun uses his own iconic face in a state of hysterical laughter as a signature trademark. Recognized universally as a sign of happiness, the smile raises questions of intent and interpretation. One of the most influential contemporary artists in China, Yue Minjun represents the new wave of Chinese artistic freedom. Amazing Laughter marks Yue MOnjun’s Canadian debut.

In Amazing Laughter Beijing-based artist Yue Minjun depicts his own iconic laughing image, with gaping grins and closed eyes in a state of hysterical laughter.  These laughing figures are the signature trademark of the artist. They are not a conventional self-portrait, as they tell us little about the person portrayed or of the reason they are laughing so hysterically. The longer you look at these cast bronze figures, the more the contradiction of the silent, frozen form of sculpture begins to intrude.  We see, but do not hear the laughter.  The contorted poses of the figure suggest animation and a cartoon form of an anonymous person. The laughter appears to be convulsive, intense, and manic, but also insincere and forced. The scale is “un-naturally” large –exaggerated and excessive like the laughter.

Yue Minjun was a leading figure in what became to be known in the 1990’s as Cynical Realism, an artistic movement that emerged in China after the 1989 student demonstrations in Tiananmen and the suppression of artistic expression.  Humor, cynicism, repetition and an emphasis on the individual are common characteristics of this artistic movement.  Yue Minjun was one of the first artists to translate this new ironic view of contemporary life, one that is expressed in the nihilistic hilarity at a time when little was funny.

For more information visit www.yueminjun.com

Amazing Laughter Details by the amazing photogrpaher, Dan Fairchild.

The City of Vancouver was alive with the spirit of the 2010 Games. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

Here’s a quick sample of some of the great photos that our intrepid camera man, Dan Fairchild, snapped during and after the fateful Gold Medal Men’s Hockey Game.

After Sidney Crosby slammed home the winning goal in OVERTIME (!) the entire city erupted into impromptu street hockey games and general jubilation that lasted until the wee hours of the next morning.

The City of Vancouver was alive with the spirit of the 2010 Games. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

The City of Vancouver was alive with the spirit of the 2010 Games. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

Going for a ride on A-Mazing Laughter. Photo by Barrie Mowatt.

It’s an exciting time to be in the city of Vancouver.

We’ve got warm sunny days.  Blue skies, lotus blossoms are on the trees and I’ve caught a few people mentioning that their spring allergies have also made an early appearance.

In February!

Oh, and let’s not forget the 2010 Olympic Winter Games!  That’s happening, too.

And Stephen Colbert‘s here, and so is the King of Greece, apparently.

But are they having as much fun as the people in these photographs are having?

Here’s some great shots of people playing with sculpture or is it the other way around?

Taken on a sunny February day near English Bay with Yue Minjun‘s A-Mazing Laughter.

Taking it easy with the Laughing Dudes at English Bay. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

Nice view from up there! Photo by Dan Farichild.

Olympic form for the dismount! Great work. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

The Olympic Torch Passes Yue Minjun's A-Mazing Laughter at English Bay! Photo: Dan Fairchild.

Today’s the day!

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games officially kicks off later this afternoon at BC Place.

But check out this great photo of the torch passing A-Mazing Laughter – the Vancouver Biennale sculpture installation located at Morton Triangle near English Bay.

The torch is winding its way through my East Vancouver neighborhood right now but earlier today the torch route took in down Denman Street.

Captured by the inimitable Dan Fairchild.

Check out the Sculpture in the background: Yue Minjun's A-Mazing Laughter. Photo by Dan Fairchild.

Who Made the Santa Hats for Yue Minjun's A-Mazing Laughter? Photo by MLA Mary McNeil Vancouver-False Creek.

There’s a mystery afoot in Vancouver and it’s not “who is going to foot the bill for the Olympics.”

Some anonymous and crafty person – or perhaps a team of elves – created a bunch of seasonal red and white Santa hats and matching scarfs for our friendly, laughing figures down at Morton Triangle near English Bay.

The day before Christmas the hats and scarfs appeared on our chilling bronze friends.  Truly, an A-Mazing occurrence.

If anyone knows who created these colourful clothes for Yue Minjun’s A-Mazing Laughter, please let me know.  We love the idea and would like to thank whoever did this with a special, tho belated, Holiday gift.

Happy to be a little bit warmer on Christmas Day at English Bay! Photo by MLA Mary McNeil Vancouver-False Creek.

Cold day but the Laughing Dudes stay A-Mazingly warm. Photo by MLA Mary McNeil Vancouver-False Creek.