My art delves into the essence of plants thriving in extreme conditions, capturing their vitality amidst impermanence. Drawing inspiration from my experiences, including a transformative summer in Tibet, I've embraced the belief in the equality of all life forms. This philosophy crystallized as I witnessed a wise monk's compassionate treatment of every flower and blade of grass. Drawing influences from abstract expressionism and Song Dynasty ink paintings, I deconstruct plant appearances to reveal their emotional core. Using large canvases and a diverse toolkit, I employ spontaneous, gestural marks to infuse my compositions with movement and time. The tension between the ephemeral nature of plants and the timeless quality of painting allows me to explore the threshold between existence and non-existence, where the force of life is most potent.
Wendi Men
Lives and works in New York.
EDUCATION:
2021 MA History of Art and Archaeology, specialize in Buddhism Art History, SOAS, University of London, London, UK
2017 BA Painting, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:
2024 Holiday, Harper’s Gallery, New York, NY
2024 Hidden Encounters, The Secret Garden, New York, NY
2024 36 Paintings, Harper’s Gallery, East Hampton, NY
2024 Live The Question, The Canopy Studio, New York, NY
2024 Crescent Heights, Harper’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Art Fair Presentation, Harper’s Gallery, Felix Art Fair, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Age of Rat and Bear, Studio Ninedee, New York, NY
2023 Echoes of Home, RIVAA and Li Tang Gallery, New York, NY
2023 Transparent Boundaries, Aerogramme Center for Arts and Culture x Compere Collective, New York, NY
CONTACT: WENDIMEN@GMAIL.COM