Mao is coming

Tienemen Square Mao

At the time,1989, I was glued to the TV in my Los Angeles studio watching the burning news of Chinese students who were protesting at Tieneman Square demanding "Freedom and Democracy”. The whole world was seeing the event through the viewpoint of the western media. Meanwhile, the majority of the Chinese people had no idea what was going on in their own land.

An inspiration for me in creating this painting is that Mao was the liberator of old society, and after the revolution the ruling class was challenged by a desire for more liberty. Sometimes History itself is an irony!

Green Mickey Mao

Meow meow Mao

Mask Mao

0 Mao

Visionary Mao

This image is based on a photograph of Mao taken during the time when he faced the predicament of his own Communist's party struggle between extreme right and left. His leadership was challenged by both sides.

Here I endeavored to enter and imagine Mao's inner struggle between resignation and determination.

Androgynous Mao

By studying all of the Chinese emperors' faces, a Chinese fortune teller pointed out that those few kings who possessed a feminine quality often became great leaders. Mao is famous for having an androgynous quality which
inspired me to create this portrait.

Chop Mao

Buddha Mao

Buddha Mao was inspired by Tu-2's journey to Tibet.

During that visit, he noticed that many pilgrims were wearing Mao badges on their chests. When he asked why they were wearing the badges, he was told "It's the Buddha!"

Mickey Mao No 2

Welcome to Mao-Ology

This blog showcases Tu-2's Mao-Ology series. The work has been shown internationally in Europe, Asia and the United State. Mao-Ology is a study of perhaps the most famous Chinese cultural icon, Mao Ze Dong. Tu-2 and his work have been featured in a variety of art journals including:中華民國帝門藝術教育基金會, Asian Art News, China Times, Hsiung Shih Art Monthly,

De Standaard Magazine of Belgium, Artweek and Los Angeles Times.