He Wei
By layering images of desire behind a shield of carefully placed line work and blocks of color, He Wei’s abstractions highlight the invisible nature of humanity masked behind a false appearance of beauty. While it is easy to ignore the mind, emotions, and spirit to accept what is simply presented on the surface, Wei is certain to reveal these intangible qualities. His paintings produce a dialogue which engages with the false identities people within society craft in order to mask insecurities. As protectors of our own minds and critics of others, society is always looking for a satisfying balance that fulfills human desires. Wei deconstructs preliminary images into forms and colors allowing him to create a relationship between the contrasting layers. Although the ambiguous photo realistic paintings and the bold gestural abstractions appear completely contrasting, upon closer inspection Wei creates harmony on his canvases through his careful work with color. Wei’s paintings reference the work of Basquiat and brings this abstraction into the 21st century as it deals with issues of censorship, consumption, sexuality, identity, and media. His compositions create a liberating openness that allows for the eye to comfortably travel around each piece to concentrate momentarily on captivating voids …
By layering images of desire behind a shield of carefully placed line work and blocks of color, He Wei’s abstractions highlight the invisible nature of humanity masked behind a false appearance of beauty. While it is easy to ignore the mind, emotions, and spirit to accept what is simply presented on the surface, Wei is certain to reveal these intangible qualities. His paintings produce a dialogue which engages with the false identities people within society craft in order to mask insecurities. As protectors of our own minds and critics of others, society is always looking for a satisfying balance that fulfills human desires. Wei deconstructs preliminary images into forms and colors allowing him to create a relationship between the contrasting layers. Although the ambiguous photo realistic paintings and the bold gestural abstractions appear completely contrasting, upon closer inspection Wei creates harmony on his canvases through his careful work with color. Wei’s paintings reference the work of Basquiat and brings this abstraction into the 21st century as it deals with issues of censorship, consumption, sexuality, identity, and media. His compositions create a liberating openness that allows for the eye to comfortably travel around each piece to concentrate momentarily on captivating voids of black, curious encoded scribbles, and the enticing shine of latex. His work focuses on anonymity and ambiguity, only revealing only enough information to introduce us to his subjects. In doing so the subjects can remain unharmed and the viewers can create and project an identity associated with the images they see.
Wei has displayed work at Primo Marella in Milan, Jianyi Zhai Gallery in Beijing, Arsenale di Venezia in Venice, Rugu Zhai Gallery in Beijing, EX3 Contemporary Art Center in Florence, The Second Anhui Oil Art Exhibition in Anhui, China, and the Archaeological National Museum in Florence.
