Yan Gallery is pleased to announce its next exhibition entitled “Pretty Woman,” featuring a collection of oil paintings by the mainland Chinese artist Shi Wei.   

Shi Wei’s subject matter revolves around the female form, and the image of the “beautiful skinny woman” has now become his trademark. Each woman has her own characteristics and the artist is careful to give them each their own identity. Some gaze out of the painting with nonchalance, a vacant expression of boredom or indifference, others are overtly seductive, with engaging “come hither” looks. 

Although each face is different, the message conveyed is the same; these women are all products of China’s new open door policy, flourishing under its fast moving economic development. Born in the 1980s and 1990s they seem, however, detached from reality, adrift in a meaningless world of consumerism.  Their emaciated bodies highlight their yearning desire to be fashionable and stylish, and yet a mood of sadness and emptiness permeates the entire collection.  This is underscored by the bland backgrounds in the paintings; anonymous hotel rooms, drab furniture and monochrome draperies.  Through this collection of paintings Shi Wei masterfully depicts the “here and now” of life in the economic boom towns of China and what it means for the young generation of women growing up in this environment. 

Shi Wei was born in 1965 in Hubei Province, China. He graduated from the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts with a Masters degree in art and now lives and works in Beijing, teaching at Beijing City University.  He has held numerous exhibitions in China as well as in Korea and Singapore. This will be his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong.

The artist will be present at the opening and a catalogue of his works will be available.