Yes, she’s right. Chen Man defines herself as “a representative of the modern Chinese visual artists” thanks to her established and wise visual language that add Chen Man’s name among the most influent and hyperactive fashion and art photographers in China.
Luxury, beauty and fashion global brands (Chanel, Adidas, Absolut Vodka, Shiseido, Motorola, L’Oreal and others) and many leading fashion magazines (Chinese editions of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar or go and see the fantastic and glamorous project for i-D magazine in 2012, when Chen Man was commissioned to take 12 different covers for the February issue celebrating the Year of the Dragon) like to work with Chen Man for her avant-garde and provocative art that often represent new icons: the modern Chinese woman. A woman who is secure in her strong and unscrupulous independence that already Helmut Newton saw in the Western models. The Chinese woman of Chen Man has no doubt about her absolute state of being contemporary and about her cold but explosive femininity.
For the first time in Thailand, Chen Man has a solo exhibition in an exclusive location the Metropolitan by COMO, curated by Lisa Botos of Ooi Botos Gallery. The main exhibition begins at hotel’s Met Bar, where in the low light atmosphere of the bar there are nine lightbox images from the “Environmental Protection” and “Bad Head” series. If you want to know more about Chen Man, about her art and her women, you should visit the Suite 1119. In the hotel’s Penthouse, called “Chen Man Penthouse Suite” during the exhibition, the show goes on with six other art works and the amazing limited edition portfolio box “31” with images from different series and printed on several high-quality papers kindly showned to the visitors (or penthouse’s guests) by a white-gloved staff member of the hotel. This special edition portfolio has been made in collaboration with the celebrated Hong Kong based designer Alan Chan.
Eliseo Barbàra
EXHIBITION
CHEN MAN
Until May 31st, 2013
Metropolitan by COMO
27 South Sathorn Road
Bangkok
Thailand
