LIN YUAN

Lin Yuan’s main subject is the female nude. He paints models in his studio, but there is nothing stiff or artificial about their poses. Unlike classic nudes, intended to display perfection, these ladies are depicted as they are in reality - fat or thin, beautiful or ugly. More startling still, often the head or upper body are cut off and not in the painting at all. As if to emphasise that the studio is real life, Lin Yuan sometimes introduces himself into the painting: his hand may appear in one corner holding a cigarette or a drink can.

Recently, Lin Yuan has turned his attention to other subjects and has also started to paint on a larger scale. His “Images of the City” series, for example, is inspired by the rapid development of cities in China over the past decade and focuses on symbols of modern consumerism such as luxury cars, new buildings and the latest ladies’ fashions.

Both in his miniature paintings and larger works, Lin Yuan uses heavy texture and bold, broad brushstrokes reminiscent of the Expressionists. However, there is nothing rough or haphazard about his brushwork; on the contrary the brushstrokes are carefully controlled and convey his subjects in a lively and lifelike way.