*This article is part of our editorial series, GALLERY SELECTS, where we showcase the diverse artists, collectors, and curators who are creating and sharing their NFTs on GALLERY.
If you've always thought classical paintings were flat and overly focused on Western perspectives, you're mostly right. Imagine taking the iconic "Birth of Venus" and adding themes of gender fluidity and modern identity: that's the way YuYu is re-engaging with classical art in the modern age. Minorities, who have long been relegated to background roles, are now brought to the forefront of these classics. With a unique approach that brings together historic masterpieces and current societal topics, his work initiates powerful discussions and offers a fresh perspective to the Web3 era.
YuYu's journey began in architecture school, where he examined the layers of classical artworks. He found beauty in these pieces but also saw a glaring lack of inclusion and representation. Determined to break these barriers, YuYu started merging traditional art with contemporary themes such as gender, identity, and societal norms.
His process involves studying original scenes and recreating them in his studio, bridging the old and the new. Through his creations, YuYu invites viewers to question the establishment and its Western-focused narratives, calling for a more inclusive view of history.
In the following discussion, we asked YuYu about his artistic philosophy, his approach to reinterpreting classical works, and the powerful messages behind his art.
As an artist, you manage to both honor and challenge classical art history. How do you strike that balance? What guides your choices when reinterpreting iconic pieces?
Looking at our past can function as a lesson and a reminder of what to deter from on a societal level. Artworks from different periods offer unique views on the societies under which they came into existence. Looking at them becomes much more interesting when combined with a historical understanding of their creation period. This realization came to me during my Architecture studies where I was exposed to art history. What has become apparent in that process, and something that became the very foundation of my practice, is how, despite the undeniable beauty of those works, their thematics often lack the levels of inclusion our contemporary perception of society requires. What is considered as “high art” on the global stage almost solely derives from the West and civilisations the West views as its predecessors.
Finding a balance between honoring the works of the old masters while maintaining a criticality toward the canon has been probably the biggest challenge. My only tool to ensure there is an understanding of my intentions, beyond just the visual appropriation, is my voice and the artist statements I always publish along with the release of an artwork. In these, I analyze in depth the process of creation and how an original artwork attracts my attention. Everything usually starts from a story –either a personal one I feel the need to share or a myth (depicted in the original artwork) that seems to me as seeking reinterpretation. Probably the longest stage of my creation process regards this specific aspect, the story. How could my contemporary perspective and experiences co-exist with a scene created centuries ago? How do I reinterpret a story while honoring the artist behind it? Those are recurring questions, they return with each creation and the answers often differ.
Each artwork is unique in its own way and needs appropriate treatment. One thing that remains consistent in all my creations is how I thoroughly study the original scenes and create an exact clone of the light conditions and body shapes in my studio. Closely following the directions of the old masters and the ways they approached their models helps me ensure my part will infuse the image seamlessly, blurring the lines of what is old and what is new.
Your artworks always leave a lasting impact. When viewers encounter them, what emotions or reactions do you hope to evoke? Do you intentionally aim for shock, introspection, or empathy?
As any artist putting their most personal works out in public, I too hope my images and messages will be successful enough to evoke emotional reactions in their viewers. Simultaneously though, I am aware it’s almost impossible to predict the exact emotions an artwork can trigger. Emotions are complicated and subconscious operations of our brains. They are heavily influenced by the lives we lead, the things we have experienced, and the traumas we bury deep underneath our public facades.
When I create I harness personal emotions and allow them to transform into something visual, something that can carry a message and be understood by people who do not necessarily share the same emotion. I want my work to be appreciated universally, not only by my peers and/or my communities. Because what it fundamentally aims to achieve, is to invite us all to question things we have learned and to open our minds to a more welcoming and inclusive world.
Could you share a specific piece where your presence within a classic painting delivers a powerful message? How do you disrupt the original context, and what narratives emerge from this collision of past and present? What societal or cultural commentary does this piece convey?
One of the most successful artworks I have created in terms of how achieved the fusion of old and new is from 2022 and is titled “Not Today, Bitch”. Building upon the famous work of Artemisia Gentilechi’s “Tarquinius and Lucretia” (1620-1650), “Not Today, Bitch” twists the original narrative and embraces an unapologetic and rebellious side of what I constitute femininity. While touching on the topics of the male gaze and concepts of hyper-masculinity vs hyper-femininity, the work objects the popular perceptions and gender biases and manifests genderless feminine empowerment.
What is particularly successful in my eyes, is how “Not Today, Bitch” uses the original myth to build a contemporary narrative with which many can relate. It's not just a work about YuYu’s life path but rather a visualization of a form of resistance. Where originally the victim was powerless towards her aggressor, here it comes back to life through me only to respond to her pillager “Not Today, Bitch”!
Symbolism transcends time and culture, serving as a universal language in art. How do you use symbols, whether borrowed or invented, in your work? Do you subvert or reinforce established ones? How do they resonate with contemporary audiences, and what new interpretations do they invite?
I do not always use symbolisms in my work but it's definitely something I enjoy doing. In my first artworks, you can see many contemporary accessories –harnesses, sports gear, Adidas socks, caps, etc. These seemingly unfit elements were used as nodes of the underground Berlin queer scene, a scene that helped me become who I am today and was a huge part of my life—during that time. For those familiar with the city’s scene during 2015 and 2020 the references are more than obvious. Later in my works, starting from 2023, there is less accessorizing and more of reinterpreting and/or combining existing symbols from other artworks. At times I would even intervene with the artwork's composition to create space for additional symbolisms.
Visual languages need contemporary elements to become relevant. Same as with memes, each art period established unique symbolisms that were understood and appreciated at their time. But the world is changing and each generation needs to find its own symbolisms they collectively accept. Bringing symbols into the masterpieces of the old masters is not just a way to imply a message, but also an attempt to bring the works back to relevance and invite viewers to look at them under a new perspective. My hope is always that the audience can appreciate both my interpretation and new meanings of the work, but at the same time re-evaluate and re-appreciate a centuries old artwork that they perhaps haven’t seen since they were in school.
In your opinion, how can digital art and NFTs contribute to a more inclusive and diverse art world? Do you see these platforms as leveling the playing field and allowing marginalized voices to thrive? What challenges and opportunities do you think arise from this shift?
This is such a hard question to be honest. There are so many aspects to look at this equation. In terms of digital art, just like in any manifestation of art, plurality adds depth, and thus, allows for the medium’s evolution. Echo chambers rarely lead to progress. Naturally, as long as we secure underprivileged voices and get adequate accessibility to digital tools, I am sure digital art will continue contributing to a more diverse art world as it has been doing since the early 60s.
When it comes to platforms I am not sure they alone can carry such an important task. I like to think of platforms as galleries. Even though they can help an artist with visibility, their business model relies on sales, and as an extension, they often tend to follow what the market dictates. While I can not talk on behalf of each queer, POC, or underprivileged individual in the space, my experience working with platforms in the NFT ecosystem has been very good. I felt both welcomed and supported pretty much in every partnership I had. The issue is that regardless of efforts of visibility, our industry lacks a layer of solid cultural appreciation. I am positive we are undergoing a significant change in that regard but until then we are still trapped in the speculative nature of crypto culture.
Beyond the famous masterpieces, are there any lesser-known historical artworks that you’d love to reinterpret or insert yourself into? What draws you to these underappreciated pieces, and how might you breathe new life into them?
Hehe! I can not open all my cards, can I? Without going into too much detail, I can share with you that I have a very large archive of artworks that I haven’t yet used. Every artwork I have ever come across and touched me is inside this archive. My interest in old works is very rarely influenced by how acclaimed they might be. What attracts me has to do with the characters and their stories, the lighting, the dramaturgy –things I can play with and incorporate into my creative practice.
The reason behind collecting them is that I never know when a story would come up and with which artwork it would be best matched.
Identity is central to your work. How does your queerness influence your perspective? In what ways do you challenge normative representations through your own identity, and what impact does this exploration have on your artistic voice?
My work’s initiation derived directly from a need of self-exploration and belonging. Especially in the beginning, it was fundamentally about identity. Both my queer and Asian identities played an important role and reflected directly in the themes of the artworks. It has always been less about rebelling against the normative representations and more about creating a space where diversity could exist and flourish. If you look at my first works the message is very simple: I am here, I exist, I thrive. Deep inside I know how without those early days of creating and exploring myself, I would have probably never become the person and artist I am today.
Looking ahead, what message or legacy do you hope your work will leave for future generations? Whether it’s a call for empathy, a reimagining of history, or a celebration of diversity, how do you envision your art resonating with those yet to come?
Oh damn, that is really hard to say. I guess as long as the work remains somehow relevant to the generations to come that would already constitute a creative success. On the other hand, if my work remains relevant hundred years down the line it means we didn’t make much progress on a societal level. Tough dilemma (laughs).
I can not say I envision for a world that far from ours. What I hope though, is that my themes will eventually become obsolete elements of a long past, and the artworks will remain to serve as reminders of the importance of growth and evolution through collectively celebrating the aspects that make each of us unique.
Thank you YuYu!
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