15 - 30 September 2008
Wen Wu is a London-based painter interested in beauty and constructs of beauty. Having spent a long time exploring the feminine ideal, inspired by the western oil paintings she had access to growing up in China, Wu’s latest works explore the beauty of young men seen through the eyes of her alter ego, a middle aged ancient Greek man.
Wen’s alter ego was developed from the historically accurate but taboo-breaking myth of Ganymede, the male lover of Zeus. From this unique perspective, Wen creates paintings conveying a fascination with the beauty of young men.
During her Whisper residency, Wen has developed a new series Emo Boys which turns her alter ego’s gaze onto the style and personalities of a new generation. For her Open Studio Wen will show eight new paintings depicting emo boys, characterised by their fashion, hairstyles and music tastes. Wen will also be showing her first full nude paintings, again viewed through the eyes of a homosexual ancient Greek man.
Wen Wu invites you to see her new Emo Boys series and discuss her unique art practice at her Open Studio Saturday 27 – Tuesday 30 September.
