In this world populated by a boy and his playmates, Mr. Y and The Rabbit, Yifei, as artist and as omniscient creator, revisits the memorable sensations of childhood and youth, recalling days of happiness and moments of loneliness. Through it all, episodes of innocence and experience are narrated; they warm the heart of the adult with the wistful contentment of memory, never to be experienced directly but only through the rich pastures of imagination.

The common thread running through his works is Yifei’s childhood fantasy world and the used of unorthodox materials such as old books cover, self-made painted frames and wooden board. Yifei’s works try to relive the easiness and carefreeness of childhood and the narration of childhood has thus become a story.

Born in 1982 in Shandong Province, China, Lu Yifei graduated from LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore and currently resides in Singapore.  He shows immense talent and potential and has participated in several exhibitions in China and Singapore.

Artist Statement

A child lives in the heart of everyone. Whether we are young or old, that child has never left us. Perhaps many have neglected the childlike heart they possess. Perhaps they find it difficult to control their own tracks in real life. They may have countless reasons for forgetting, but they can never deny that the inner child exists. The ideals of youth can never ever be let gone. My own boy is my companion. The life of he and his friends has always been with my spirit. They bear all of my happiness, troubles, fancies and loneliness.

By choice, the boy refuses to grow up. Faced with a world of tumult, he does not want to be cynical, nor will he become indifferent due to loneliness. Instead, he lets himself enjoy, in a silent way, a space of serenity and ease. His world is a paradise. Silence gives him joy and strength. This joy is remembered laughter, innocence radiating from oneself. There is neither fear nor sadness here. He and his friends play and explore; they roam leisurely, with a child’s sense of superiority, in a mental world of their own, in which they are completely immersed.

Mr. Y and the rabbit are the boy’s playmates. Sometimes, they are also his incarnations, living in a world beyond the pictures. The rabbit was born carefree, and it still is. Mr. Y, who has a tail, likes to ruminate – he is constantly introspecting. If you are willing, perhaps the boy will quietly visit you, bringing along the rabbit and the fox.