Michael Gao's airbrush paintings have revitalized interest in furry culture, showcasing its aesthetic merit beyond its niche roots. His work, which features detailed representations of anthropomorphic animals and hybrids, challenges traditional views of this subculture, inviting audiences to grapple with their perception of identity and transformation. Gao emphasizes the tension between digital and physical existence, using his art to provoke discomfort and curiosity about the coexistence of human and animal traits in the contemporary landscape. His artistic process blends traditional and digital techniques, reinforcing these themes throughout his creations.
In a sudden twist of fate, furries are cool again. Or maybe that's just the impression that airbrush painter Michael Gao gives off. Widely regarded as a bizarre kink, Michael has clearly taken it upon himself to open the controversial aesthetic beyond DeviantArt online kitsch to the public - with consideration for the importance of a 'fursona', a persona characterised by a highly customised anthropomorphic animal.
Seeking to recreate the claustrophobia of digital spaces and physical bodies, Michael's excellent airbrush technique flattens planes whilst rendering fur, eyes and light in photorealistic detail, furthering the viewer's unexplainable discomforts surrounding furry culture.
I tried to unpack the idea of hybrids and intrusion, the distinctions between inside and outside. Those are the things I think about when unravelling my own identity.
Exploring the uncanny valley between human and animal, a type of hybrid being, Michael references the importance and violence of transformation, which has roots in ancient traditions such as donning animal furs.
Collection
[
|
...
]