Frogs and rabbits are two core symbols running through Xu Ming’s creations, carrying his profound reflections on ideal and reality. Rabbits represent the leisurely self in the ideal world, while frogs symbolize the busy and chaotic state of daily reality. The contrast between the two images forms his distinctive artistic language.
A graduate of Jilin College of the Arts, Xu Ming worked in Fang Lijun’s studio for years. Nurtured by contemporary art, he developed an understated yet powerful creative style. His sculptures adopt diverse materials including resin and cast copper. Among them, the Don’t touch me boxing rabbit series, featuring sharp lines and textured collision between metal and resin, has become a mainstream icon in pop art. It is collected by renowned collectors including Li Lin and Li Chen, and has been displayed in multiple pop exhibitions such as Rabbit Dash.
From electroplated red rabbits in Friday to vintage bronze sculptures in Where are you, Xu Ming constantly explores the boundary between imagery and materials. His boxing rabbit works deliver a blunt attitude of refusing disturbance through exaggerated postures and strong visual impact, while frog-themed pieces record subtle observations of mundane life with delicate facial detailing. Beyond pop cultural expression, his creations are in-depth dialogues between individuals and the world, helping audiences grasp the balance between idealism and reality through familiar visual symbols.
