Paintings of black humor

Artist Bjarne Melgaard's works on display at Beijing's Faurschou Gallery, June 25. [Photo/China Daily]

New York-based artist Bjarne Melgaard touches on many social problems that most people dare not to face in his artworks: crimes, sex abuse, drugs and sports to challenge one's physical limits.

He explores people's feelings of loneliness, suicide, love and insecurity. And he transforms these issues into paintings, sculptures and installations which he imbues with striking visual tension and aesthetic power.

His exhibition, titled Bitter Angle, now at Beijing's Faurschou Gallery, displays eight sizable oil paintings that Melgaard created since 1999. He demonstrates a highly personalized and expressive style, and created a sensual world composed of vividly colored images and graffiti-like texts.

The body of work can be viewed as Melgaard's visual diaries that center on art, masculinity, sex, drugs and identity.

He also pays homage to artists such as Henri Matisse and Edvard Munch who inspired him in the paintings, by reinterpreting their works.

The exhibition runs until Aug 9.