Artist Profiles

Ma Liu Ming

Ma Liuming was born in 1969 in Huangshi, Hubei Province, China. He graduated from the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts, Hubei, China in 1991 with a focus in oil painting. He has performed and exhibited work internationally, including such countries as Thailand, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the USA. Ma Liuming began making his nude performance pieces in Beijing in the early 1990’s, usually in front of a small circle of friends. With long hair and feminine features, he uses his androgynous look as an important part of his art and wears make-up to transform his face into his female alter ego, Fen. In the earlier works he would sit naked on a platform, while in later works, such as “Fen Ma Liuming in Lyon (France)” from 2001, he is also drugged with sleeping pills that render him essentially motionless. Those in attendance are then invited to come on stage and take a picture with the artist. Some pose at his feet, others disro! be and sit next to him, most engage the limp body as a prop. Audience reaction varies from country to country. Their expressions vary from amusement to challenge to adoration, but their awareness of the camera (and its importance in provoking their reaction) is never in question. In 1994, made up with lipstick, powdered cheeks and a naked body, he cooked a tomato, a picture of a tomato, a watch, and an earring, and then buried the mixture in the ground. For this, the police imprisoned him for two months for “pornographic activities”. He currently lives and works in Beijing.

Other Works By This Artist [ click to view larger images ]