ABOUT | Wenlu Bao

Artist Biography

Currently based in Berlin and Shanghai, Wenlu Bao got her MFA in Photographic and Electronic Media from Maryland Institute College of Art. She hugely concentrates on female inner crisis and disorder, while her cross-cultural experiences between East and West have simultaneously compelled her to foster an intimate consciousness of racial identity . The discovery of hidden contradictions under seemingly peaceful life awakens her and anger coming after that partially forms up her inspirations. Motivated by an urge of expression, she transcends the limitations of medium-specific practice. Her work extends across photography, video, painting, performance, and even stand-up practices rooted in language itself. Her works have appeared across diverse media, including gallery exhibitions, major art fairs, art publications like Dazed Beauty and Der Greif, as well as online platforms, emerging as a key feminist voice within the Chinese context.

Artist Statement

Self-portrait and explicit female perspective have always been fundamental elements in my works since the first piece. Compared with showing solicitude for female suffering, I care more about the classification and definition of gender, as well as additional conditions and stubborn stereotypes come with them. Not only do I stare at unequal regulations caused by gender, but I also stay alert for privileges come along. Privileges never appear without the command of giving up more rights and hiding deeper under the shadow of male gaze, which is the issue that I will never stay docile for. Besides morally defective malignance that causes serious physical and mental harm towards the minority, I would also, and would rather kicks against transparent discrimination that is deeply hidden under daily life and is protected by masculine defenses in order to keep privilege of masculinity and tame female into sexual objects and convince them to spontaneously believe that severe gender problems no longer exist. With clear viewpoints stated by tough methods and strong atmosphere, I describe and provoke gender discrimination as well as conservative stereotypes towards female as a gender group. Through video, photography and installation, I insist on intense and unique visual display in order to intuitively deliver my emotions and thoughts. Exaggerated face, skin and flesh are aimed to prove my existence as an Asian and as a female, which is as minority in conclusion.