BoMu (Gao Bo)'s penchant for multimedia techniques is highlighted in his "Sketch Portrait" series; the pieces look like sketches, but are actually photographs covered nearly completely in emulsion, ink, and pastel. The base photos were taken in Tibet, where locals wear cloth masks to defend against the cold and dust. In the "Duality" branch of the series, the wooden masks represent dualities in Tibetan religion. The completed piece represents a duality of its own, a mix of earthly and transcendent concerns.

Year:  1995-2003
Medium:  Gelatin silver print on canvas, ink, and emulsion
Dimensions:  32 x 45 cm
Edition:  1

Year:  2009
Medium:  Gelatin silver print, emulsion, ink, and oil pastel on canvas
Dimensions:  200 x 125 cm
Edition:  1

Artist's Bio

BoMu (Gao Bo)(b. 1964, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China)

1991 Graduated from the Catholic University of Paris, Paris, France
1987 Graduated from the Institute of Fine Arts Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

Solo Exhibitions:
2005 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet: 1993-1995," Maison de China, Paris, France
2004 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet: 1993-1995," Cultural Center, Bergerac, France
2003 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet: 1993-1995," Vu Gallery, Paris, France
2003 "The Figure Die Away I," Les Rencontres d'Arles, Arles, France
2001 "Duality No. 1," FOTONOVIEMBRE, Tenerife, Spain
2000 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet 1993-1995," FNAC Photo Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
2000 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet 1993-1995," FNAC Photo Gallery, FOTOESPANA, Madrid, Spain
1997 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet 1993-1995," FNAC Photo Gallery, Berlin, Germany
1996 "Gao Bo Photo Tibet 1993-1995," FNAC Photo Gallery, Paris, France
1993 "Spring of Beijing," Space Pier Paolo Pasolini, Valencienne, France
1989 "Spring of Beijing," VISA International Festival of Photojournalism, Perpignan, France

Group Exhibitions:
2013 "The First Three Shadows Experimental Image Exhibition" Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, China
2011 "The Figure Die Away I Projection," Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing, China
2008 "New Photo 1994-1998," FOTOFEST, Houston, USA
2007 "Duality No. 1 and No. 2 Projection," PHOTOESAPANA, Madrid, Spain
2007 "New Photo 10 Years," Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, Beijing, China
2004 "The Ranks of Pilgrims," Forbidden City, Beijing, China
2002 "China New Photo," Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, China
1998 "Under/Exposed," Stockholm, Sweden
1997 "Chinese Contemporary Art," Watari Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan
1996 "Tibet," London Photography Gallery, London, UK
1990 "Spring of Beijing 1989," Prague, Czech Republic
1989 "Spring of Beijing 1989," Les Rencontres d’Arles, Arles, France
1989 "Spring of Beijing 1989," Musee de l'Elysee, Lausanne, Switzerland

Publications and Awards
2004 Published Paris, Agenda Photo by Gao Bo
2002 Gao Bo wins the Special Honor at the Pingyao International Photography Festival, Pingyao, China
1999 I.M. PEI Essences wins the Book Design Prize from Beijing Fine Art Association, Beijing, China
1998 I.M. PEI Essences wins the UNESCO Prize for The Most Beautiful Book, Germany  
1997 Published I.M. PEI Essences 
1996 Published Gao Bo Photo Tibet: 1993-1995
1990 Gao Bo wins the Gold Medal at the Visa International Photography Festival, Perpignan, France
1989 Published China-Leben im Reich der Mitte
1986 Gao Bo wins First Prize (Hasselblad Prize) at the National Photography Competition, Beijing, China