Wacky Surrealist Chinese Photographer, Li Wei, Takes the Art World by Storm

Li Wei (born in 1970, Hubei, China) is a contemporary artist from Beijing, China. His work often depicts him in gravity-defying situations.  His work is a mixture of performance art and photography that creates illusions of a sometimes dangerous reality. Li Wei states that these images are not computer montages and works with the help of props such as mirror, metal wires, scaffolding and acrobatics.

'My artistic language is universal and deals with themes about contemporary politics and society using symbols understood by everyone in every part of the world.'I am fascinated by the unstable and dangerous sides of art and I hope my works reflect these aspects.'

Wei's photos, which sell up to $8,000 (£4,200), have depicted him free falling from tall buildings-pictures that resemble the famous photograph of the French artist Yves Kline hurtling out a window.
The artist loves the reaction that his work evokes from people who pass it on the street. [via wiki and other sources]

"My goal is to make everything impossible possible, I hope one day I can shoot on the moon with a rocket." ~ Li Wei

Li Wei dressed as a Monk is lowered into position via a crane and some heavy duty cables. 

(Fontaine of Lyons at La Villette in Paris)

*Click on images for a larger view*

Behind the scenes Photoshoot for WALLPAPER Magazine. For video hover over image with cursor)

Interesting behind the scenes video of Wei at work. Sorry about the horrible video quality. It must  have been shot with a cell phone from 1993

See an interview with Li Wei here