Alex Guofeng Cao
Hepburn vs Dietrich
2009

About the Item

In a captivating new collection, Alex Guofeng Cao dazzles audiences with his unique twist on instantly recognizable images. Inspired by history and pop culture, Cao manipulates one iconic image to create another in his extraordinary large-scale works. From a distance, the pieces appear to be a singular image but as the viewer approaches closer, you find each work is a masterfully crafted compilation of minute detailed images layered next to one another, creating a mesmerizing and hypnotic optical illusion. Cao meticulously places each smaller image to form a dynamic gradient from dark to light which tricks the eye into seeing one image. This expertise in contrast is exemplified in all of his works, from striking black and white pieces to stunning explorations in high-definition color. He cleverly mirrors this visual contrast in his subject matter by subverting the main image and creating a dialogue between the macrocosm and microcosm. Take the piece, Ali vs Armstrong; here we see the iconic image of Muhammed Ali’s victory composed of thousands of tiny portraits of Neil Armstrong. Cao seamlessly ties together two astronomical events from the ‘60s: Ali’s incredible career and the moon landing. Another piece, A Thousand Kisses Deep, Lichtenstein vs Warhol, innovatively recreates a beautiful Lichtenstein work using only images of Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe’s Lips. In his skillful combination of these pieces, the artist draws on the similar visual effects of their works and bridges the divide between these two great pop artists.

Creator:
Alex Guofeng Cao (1969, Chinese)
Creation Year:
2009
Dimensions:
Height: 60 in (152.4 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Medium:
Plexiglass,Archival Ink,Mixed Media,Oil,Archival Paper,Archival Pigment
Movement & Style:
Contemporary
Period:
2010-
Condition:
Gallery Location:
New York, NY
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1566210557452
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