- Exhibitions
- Events & Lectures
- Collections
- The Shop
- Education
- Get Involved
- About MoCP
- Portfolio Review
- MoCP Blog
- Press
- Contact
Ma Liuming
(China, b. 1969)
Fen Ma Liuming in Lyon (France), 2001
Detail, Fen Ma Liuming in Lyon (France), 2001
Ma Liuming began making his nude performance pieces in Beijing in the early 1990’s, usually in front of a small circle of friends. With long hair and feminine features, he uses his androgynous look as an important part of his art and wears make-up to transform his face into his female alter ego, Fen. In the earlier works he would sit naked on a platform, while in later works, such as “Fen Ma Liuming in Lyon (France)” from 2001, he is also drugged with sleeping pills that render him essentially motionless. Those in attendance are then invited to come on stage and take a picture with the artist. Some pose at his feet, others disrobe and sit next to him, most engage the limp body as a prop. Audience reaction varies from country to country. Their expressions vary from amusement to challenge to adoration, but their awareness of the camera (and its importance in provoking their reaction) is never in question.
Ma Liuming was born in 1969 in Huangshi, Hubei Province, China. He graduated from the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts, Hubei, China in 1991 with a focus in oil painting. He has performed and exhibited work internationally, including such countries as Switzerland, Italy, Austria, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the USA. Between 2000 and 2003 alone he has had solo performances and exhibitions at Soobin Art Gallery, Singapore; Tensta Konsthall, Sweden; Gallery Q, Tokyo, Japan; Studio 303, part of Festival Art Action Actual, Montreal, Canada; Les Subsistances TM, part of Polysonneries Festival, Lyon, France; Kunsthallen Brandst Kladefabrik, part of 3rd International Performance Festival, Odense, Denmark; Imperial Mint, part of the 7th International Isanbul Biennial; Dilston Grove Church, part of Span2 International Performance Art, London; Teater Utan Kayu, Jakarta, Indonesia; Kwangju Biennale, Kwangju, Korea; Kunstraum, Germany, part of Performance Art in NRW 2000; and Baan Chao Praya, part of the 3rd International Performance Art Festival, Bangkok, Thailand. He currently lives and works in Beijing.