Neo‑Mastr Portraits
Neo-Mastr Portraits is a series of unique pieces made using GAN technology, which delves into the multifaceted identity, culture, and aesthetics of modern China through AI-driven artistic representation. The project analyses the portraits of Chinese ethnic minorities and the selfies of Smart — a well-known subculture in China that has a very distinct sense of identity — to create avatars for the Smart community. The Smarts (also known as Shamate in Mandarin Chinese) are second-generation migrant workers seeking self-expression through unique aesthetics, blending Chinese post-Internet, folk culture, and mass production influences. The AI training involves collecting selfies from platforms like Qzone, Audition, Baidu, and Kuai, alongside ethnographic photographs.
Funa Ye is an artist exploring the relationship between the realities of everyday life and the perceived connection between authority and social life. Funa Ye’s practice studies the different power structures, ethnic groups, and the fictional space of propaganda striving for the concept of ‘perfection’ within an ideological system, and a utopian landscape. Therefore, the work is politically charged, subtly engaged in pastiche as a satirising style of propaganda, rich in reference, parody, and irony of uniformity cultures. Funa holds a BA in Experimental Art from Central Academy of Fine Arts (China), an MA in Fine Art from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design (UK). She is currently pursuing a practice led PhD at Slade School of Fine Art (UK). She has been an artist-in-residence at K11 Foudation (Hong Kong), Pro Helvetia Swiss Council 2018 Studio Residency (Bern) and exhibited her work internationally – from Eil Klein Gallery (New York) to Bilsart (Istanbul) and Nottingham Contemporary. Funa is based in London.