HALF : HALF A Draper Experiment by Willie Yao

Exhibition Website

Jan 4 2019 - Feb 24 2019

The Delaware Contemporary presents HALF : HALF by Willie Yao, the first exhibition of our Draper Experiment series. HALF : HALF debuts ten site-specific pieces of paintings, video, and other media installations that explore Yao's discovery of his own identity and lifestyle as an urban citizen. Figurative and deeply individualistic, Yao invites the observer to ask questions about their own dynamic identity, psychology, and life experiences.

American Artist, Glenn Ligon once said, "The 'one' that I am is composed of narratives that overlap, run parallel to, and often contradict one another." This statement on identity from Yourself in the World: Selected Writings and Interviews perfectly explains the exhibition title, HALF : HALF. Having lived in Shanghai, Beijing, and New York City as a Chinese contemporary artist, Yao has in-depth and unique urban experiences. In each city, Yao immerses himself into the local community with eagerness and readiness, even with all the language and so-called cultural "barriers."

To demonstrate his internal "half," the largest artwork in the exhibition, Man-09152017, reveals Willie's internal transformation from his iconic graffiti illustration art style into simple compositions with a more confident aesthetic. In his previous practice, Yao drew lines to form color blocks, leaving specks in the "in-between" spaces to evoke mystery, like stars in the dark night sky. 

To portray his external "half," Yao invited friends, peers, his ex-husband, and strangers to collaborate on the artistic process, completing the narrative of HALF : HALF. The co-creators in this exhibition include, No. 223, one of the most popular photographers in China who focuses on intimate relationships, and KidK, Chief Editor of the Chinese street fashion hype magazine, YOHO!. By including these collaborators, Yao positions his identity to a broader context of lifestyle elements, such as the relationship between pop art and contemporary art and how one thinks and lives as the driving force between consumerism and pop culture. 

A mini-documentary based on the creative process of HALF : HALF showcasing the Yao's challenges and inspirations accompanies this exhibition.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website

  • Various Media
  • Contemporary
  • Culture / Lifestyle
  • Willie Yao

Exhibition Venues & Dates