As an avant-garde painter, Zhang Wei graduated from Guangzhou School of Fine Arts in the Traditional Chinese Painting Department in 1982. He gained popularity with his comic "Vs"(versus) series. With the help of computer software and his painting skills, he created a lively setting for traditional Chinese art combined with iconic Western figures. In this series, established traditional art methods are juxtaposed with photography in a new and interesting way. Using the multimedia format as a kind of game, it is possible to attest that the artist does not intend for anyone to win but simply enjoy 'playing'.

Zhang says that initially he just wanted to depict questions that exist between Eastern and Western art and culture. Later, he extended this theme to include the environment, human-interest subjects, the history of mankind and feminism.

Zhang began learning to paint in early childhood. After taking courses at the Guangzhou School of Fine Arts he became a skilled painter, being very good at traditional Chinese painting. However, he gradually found that unlike grand old artists like Fan Kuan and Qi Baishi (masters of traditional Chinese painting) he was dissatisfied with traditional methods alone and only enjoyed himself when he used particular traditional styles. Besides brushes, he noticed other modern instruments to work with, such as the computer.

In 1998, the publication Hunan Literature changed its front page and asked Zhang to do a cover. He used a work that he made for fun and won unexpected praise from critics. Since then, Zhang has worked on the "Vs" series. Film stars, artists, politicians and popular musicians have all been entered into the artist's world of fun.

The "Vs" series focuses on masterpieces and popular images from both China and the West. Using vivid pictures and text, the exaggerated juxtaposition makes for a transcultural joke. Indeed, inside every visual game there is a kind of philosophy represented. Zhang's works are not though intentionally philosophical. However, some critics maintain that great wisdom lies in the visual games he plays.

Harmoniously combining Eastern figures with Western ones in a single picture, the artist creates the potential for implicit meaning to contract easily perceived meaning. This is why it is called an "arena" of different cultures.

But in essence, arguing the true meaning of the work is somewhat pointless, other critics suggest. Instead, the real aim of the work is to communicate and benefit from multiple cultural references.

The picture shows the free and easy life of Qi Baishi at the age of 90. He appears calm and content without flaring up at life's provocations. The wide range of blank space in the picture indicates his empty state of mind. Working with the theme that the younger generation's life is more complicated, Monroe represents earthly desires as smoke and clouds curling around him. Together, it looks comic and serious as well as a little conflicting. Does Marilyn really interrupt the old man's peaceful state? It's up to the viewer to guess...

The "Vs" series:

(pictures from the biweekly New Movie)

(China.org.cn by Lixiao February 6, 2004)