The provided subject likely refers to one of two notable contemporary artworks from 2017: by Valérie Belin or Self Portrait with Working Ladies by Wong Keen. Both pieces offer profound social commentary on femininity and identity. Painted Ladies (2017) by Valérie Belin
cm) represents a bridge between traditional roots and modern abstraction. Ladies(2017)
: Wong Keen is recognized for merging Nanyang ink traditions with American abstraction. The provided subject likely refers to one of
: The piece places the artist within the context of "working ladies," likely referencing the everyday labor and societal fabric of Singapore or similar urban landscapes. It serves as a study of the "nomadic subject" who must clarify their authentic self within changing, sometimes alienating, environments. Comparative Analysis: The "Ladies" of 2017 Painted Ladies (Belin) Self Portrait with Working Ladies (Keen) Medium Photography / Digital Manipulation Acrylic on Canvas Primary Theme Construction of beauty and identity Personal and cultural history Visual Style High-fashion artifice, abstract makeup Abstracted figurative movement Tone Clinical, interrogative, eerie Reflective, energetic, commemorative Valérie Belin | Edwynn Houk Gallery : Wong Keen is recognized for merging Nanyang
: The series features portraits of women where the makeup is so heavy and stylized it acts as an abstract disguise rather than an enhancement. Belin blurs the lines between a real person and a mannequin, questioning whether we are looking at a living subject or a carefully curated model.
: The work critiques modern cultural norms and the "excess information" of digital age beauty. By using digital additions and physical makeup, Belin highlights the tension between illusion and materiality, showing how social meaning is fabricated through images. Self Portrait with Working Ladies (2017) by Wong Keen This large-scale acrylic on canvas (
Valérie Belin’s series is a complex exploration of the intersection between human identity and artificial construction.