Wei explores visual codes across different genres through an imaginative approach to image-making. At the heart of her practice is storytelling, of both individual and universal experiences. Some of the themes she explores include loss of identity in an alienating world, sinister effects of technological abuse, and struggle for self-actualization. Each piece straddles the boundary between the real and the imaginary, by either subverting our expectations of conventional narratives or by inserting insidious meanings into unexpected moments. Like children’s fables such as Grimms’ fairy tales, disruptive messages are concealed within seemingly innocuous imagery, cuteness being a defense mechanism against harder-to-digest realities. The large-scale format of the paintings are aimed at creating an immersive experience, where the viewer might feel enveloped within these fantastical worlds.
New York, New York