Each of Jeffrey Chong Wang's paintings is almost a self-portrait of himself, as it reflects his cultural upbringing, personal feelings and experiences.
Much of his work is a reflection of his emotions and memories; and demonstrates his understanding and interpretation of the world. Wang has lived in Canada since 1999. However, his time spent growing up in native China has also been a significant influence on his art. Alongside himself, Wang uses portraits of his family members at different ages as well as various locations in China that he recalls from his past.
In his latest body of work, Wang's characters are set against a backdrop of intensity and drama, as though the canvas was a stage. This is apparently because of an imbalance he emotionally feels of himself and the outside world. He fuses classical concepts and traditional techniques into his oil paintings using exaggerated figures. These figures reflect the history of Western oil painting techniques but also show contemporary themes of Eastern culture.
You can see his latest series, The Other Side of Now, at Gallery House in Toronto from 7 March until 3 April 2020. Discover more of his work at www..jeffreychongwang.com.
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