Musk Ming is a Berlin-based Chinese artist who has carved out his own way of combining traditional Chinese art with contemporary techniques and Western aesthetics. His works, which have been showcased across Europe and Asia, often reflect an international outlook and cross-cultural perspective. He was an introverted child, drawing alone in his spare time. As a teenager, he studied Chinese ink painting and calligraphy, as well as classical painting. His subject matter, however, remained a secret until he moved to Berlin in 2005. Ming borrows the aesthetics of Chinese propaganda posters by incorporating elements that were common in designs beginning in the 1950s. He uses the sunshine stripe effect in some of his pieces, but instead of statesmen and heroic figures, they encompass kissing and intimate men. As a background, we often see Chinese natural landscapes, but also an occasional sign of military power. But what stands out most are the accessories his characters wear, marked by an array of military hats. One other constant characteristic of his work is the use of traditional Chinese elements, such as dragons, opera characters, ornamented vases, and ancient architecture. He also uses a red name seal instead of signing his paintings and titles them with vertical calligraphy. The absence of sexuality in Chinese art and the relatively open approach in the West are brought to the fore in his paintings. Beyond the nudity, however, the focus is always on the relationship between human, society and nature. To further connect himself to the vibrant art scene of Berlin, he opened an art gallery from 2010 to 2014. Located in the heart of Nollendorfplatz, Berlin Avantgarde was an eventful place that provides a platform for budding and established artists to showcase their works. Follow Musk's work here: muskming.com #QueerPortraits