4me4you presents the artist Pei Wang and his latest work, The Enneagram Mask, showcased during his visit to Workplace Gallery.
MY PROCESS
In this series, Wang masterfully employs the "extreme close-up" technique, a device often used in cinema to reveal intimate details beyond normal perception, drawing the viewer into a profound connection with the subject.
His canvases feature tightly cropped faces, rendered with meticulous precision. Every glisten of an eye and every texture of skin is captured in vivid, almost unsettling detail, set against shadowy backgrounds that heighten the emotional tension.
Wang’s art engages with the ideas of Walter Benjamin’s essay The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. In an era of digital media and mass reproduction, where images are consumed rapidly, The Enneagram Mask stands as a testament to the power of singular, tactile works of art.
Rather than losing its aura through reproduction, Wang’s paintings elevate it, forcing viewers to slow down and engage deeply with the textures, colours, and emotions conveyed on each canvas.
Intrigued by his unique approach, we extended an invitation to Dmitry to showcase his work in this month’s edition, eager to delve deeper into his creative process and the mesmerising results it yields.
His use of casein tempera, an ancient medium made from milk, reinforces the sense of historical and biological connection in his work. In contrast to the fleeting images of social media, Wang’s pieces demand meditative attention. This deliberate slowing down of the viewer’s gaze serves as a quiet rebellion against the fast-paced consumption of digital images.
At Workplace Gallery, Wang’s work becomes a powerful statement on the tension between digital immediacy and the enduring power of painting. The Enneagram Mask is a bold act of resistance, encouraging deeper contemplation and inviting the viewer into a world of rich, tactile experience.