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Gao Yuan
Gao Yuan, inspired by the spheres of Italian Renaissance painting, stages portraits that shape the dichotomies and paradoxes of modern Chinese society and its economic developments. The women portrayed are without gene and radiate strength and self-confidence against the backdrop of a rapidly changing city.
Gao Yuan's series "The Hero" examines the divide between appearance and behaviour. She found that for children there exists little difference between the two. They explained to her in interviews prior to their photo shoots, that an heroic appearance is the first step to being a super hero, oneself. By creating faux tattoos of super heroes the children, all of a shy and introvert nature, believed, that the hero tattoo helped them to become the super hero they want to be. Photographing them with their faux tattoos, Gao Yuan captured their changed identity.