| Interview – Yuliang
Wu @ Adonis Art
Q1. An exhibition of your work is taking place at Adonis Art
in May. What can we expect?
A. You can expect to see a progression in my work, perhaps a
growing maturity. My subjects are still handsome but with more
character behind the blue eyes.
Q2. So how would you describe your style?
A. I try to capture a particular moment in time, to portray an
instant of recognition or desire. I want to convey the impression
of a swiftly captured image, natural, un-posed. The beauty of
my subjects is passing - I want to record it NOW, because that
instant will never recur.
Q3. You came to London from China in 2002 in search of new experiences.
Did you find what you were looking for?
A. Yes. I am caught up in all the excitement of being in England
and especially in London with all its beauty, both traditional
and contemporary, its vibrant art scene and architecture and its
multi-ethnic diversity of people.
Q4. How did the cultural differences between China and Britain
influence your work?
A. In London I can freely express and share my artistic feelings
without fear of offending others.
Q5. Is it easier to explore your homoerotic themes in Britain?
A. Yes, here I feel that I am one of many enjoying such freedom.
Q6. Where does the inspiration for your lush romantic fantasies
come from?
A. My inspiration comes from within myself and from those around
me. London is teeming with a huge cross-section of looks, dreams
and fantasies. My work is romantic but with an edge.
Q7. What emotions are you trying to evoke in the people who look
at your work?
A. I want people to enjoy my work on a level of their own choosing.
Hopefully they will see beyond mere technique and share the happiness
and joy of living, which I both invest in and draw from my subjects.
Q8. What sort of guys do you prefer to paint?
A. I look for the free spirit in my subjects. I paint handsome
guys, although appreciating that we all have our own ideas as
to who is handsome. I search out well-defined features, eyes which
have a story.
Q9. In real life, what kind of guys do you go for?
A. Let me think about that one! Perhaps the answer lies in my
art...... ;-)
Q10. The men in your paintings are beautiful Adonai. Is the gay
community too concerned with the body beautiful?
A. No more so than the straight community. We talk a lot about
personality and the beauty within, but why not celebrate the overt
beauty as well?
Q11. So how do you find your models?
A. Primarily by keeping my eyes open. As I remarked earlier,
London offers a rich diversity of sources and I try to assimilate
all the images that pass before my eyes - sometimes it will be
a striking individual, sometimes a composite image, sometimes
a fantasy.
Q12. What is it about the naked male body rather than a clothed
one that you find so attractive to paint?
A. I believe the male body is beautiful, it should be seen and
admired in its natural state. This is a theme which has run through
the entire history of art, both painting and sculpture.
Q13. How does your sexuality influence your work?
A. It makes me feel closer to my subjects, happy and relaxed
about myself and my friends.
Q14. Do you think it is important for the gay community to see
itself represented in art?
A. Of course. It is another statement of the normality of homosexuality
that its images can be viewed on their own merits rather than
seen a separate interest.
Q15. Finally, what are your plans for the future?
A. To broaden my horizons, to give increasing depth to my work,
to depict handsome men and share that gift with others through
my art.
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