Lau Wai
Profile Picture (Tetsuwan Atomu)

Profile Picture (Tetsuwan Atomu)

© Lau Wai

Profile Picture (Tetsuwan Atomu)
Profile Picture (Tetsuwan Atomu)
ArtistChinese, born 1982
CultureChinese
Titles
  • Profile Picture (Tetsuwan Atomu)
Date2017
MediumInkjet print with applied acrylic
DimensionsSheet: 47 × 37 in. (119.4 × 94 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Photo Forum 2018
Object number2018.193
Non exposé

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Department
Photography
Object Type
DescriptionIn Profile Picture, artist Lau Wai carefully painted a portion of Japanese anime character Tetsuwan Atomu onto a reproduction of her childhood portrait. Lau’s blurred, three-year-old self becomes a bold, strong superhero by virtue of the flexing, sleek arms and torso painted onto the photo’s surface. The contrast between the blurred, meek portrait and the crisp, powerful character is striking. Commenting on the global popularity of anime, the uniquely Asian roots of this art form, and the influence of those cartoons on her perception of self, Lau’s engaging work is multilayered.
ProvenanceThe artist, Hong Kong; purchased by MFAH, 2018.
Exhibition History"Photo Booth," Para Site, Art Basel, Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, March 21–25, 2017.

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