Yixuan Zhao

My practice consists of paintings depicting semi-abstract spaces populated with distorted figures. I have always been captivated by classical Rococo era paintings for their aesthetics and mythical references, yet I realise that beauty and evil can coexist in the same work. Many of these classical paintings I admire are boasts of affluence that were produced for wealthy people who would have reached their position by exploiting ordinary people. My practice critically addresses this aspect of class-injustice by maintaining an intentionally consistent format of obfuscating presumed figures and masking faces. Identities become blurred and the original emphasis on status and wealth is removed, therefore nurturing a purer appreciation of beauty beyond the realm of vanity.