Mao Wu draws inspiration from sensationalist press images for clues to the drift of political power. Through painting, he analyzes the political meanings and power relations of the original images, in order to provide a new, ambiguous and more open context.

His painting is based on existing images (such as photography, painting, drawing, etc.). The artist uses painting methods to enhance some of the content of the original images or explore new feelings. The stories behind the images fascinate him. Sometimes, behind the mediocre image is so cruel. This cruelty contrasts strongly with the mediocrity, lightness and blur of the image itself.

In this series, he reframes semi-nude photos of political figures collected from the Internet and focuses on their bodies, their identities are masked, showing only anonymous bodies, thus exploring the body and power, masculinity, etc.

Mao Wu (b. 1997, Sichuan,China) Lives and works in Brussels, Belgium. He graduated from a Bachelor in painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), Beijing, China. He is currently studying at the Académie royale des beaux-arts de Bruxelles in Belgium.​

Wu has recently exhibited at Gallerie Maia Muller, Paris in 2022 ; Wanying Art Space, Shijiazhuang,China ; Expo-Arts de Guangzhou in Guangzhou, China ; Galerie de CAFA, Beijing, China in 2020.