Pedestrians on a street in Beijing cannot help but be drawn to a cluster of cheeky-looking sculptures by Chinese artist Yue Minjun.

The contemporary Chinese artist is best known for depictions of himself frozen in mid-laughter.

Trained as a painter, sculptor and printmaker, he uses his art as contemplation and commentary on societal changes that have been taking place in China over the decades.

He once told Huffington Post: "I choose to paint laughter, to communicate a sense of pleasure and happiness, but actually, it hides a double perspective of drama and suffering."