Alex Guofeng Cao went to New York in search of an occupation, discovered photography and found his passion. Cao tirelessly studied and experimented with photographic methods and techniques and found inspiration in the works of Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Edward Weston, and Robert Mapplethorpe. While adept with colour, the artist prefers to work in black and white. His deep fascination with the subtle shades between the deep black and the stark white are the spring board for all the colours he uses.

Cao's most recent works comprise images of pop culture icons. At a glance, this whole menagerie of stars is almost instantly recognisable. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the images are composed of a constellation of tiny repetitive photos,  each differing slightly from its neighbour. These miniscule visages that compose and conspire to form the larger portraits are iconic images themselves. The plot thickens as one realizes that a play, a dialogue  has arisen between the chosen characters that inhabit one another.

Cao's method of creation turns a mosaic of memories into an impression of the present. Impressed and greatly influenced by the ideal forms and proportions of the iconic and statuesque sculptures of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, it could be said that Cao's work has its roots in western antiquity. Another great source of inspiration is derived from the mosaic floors and walls of Naples and Pompeii which the artist visted a decade ago. His work takes shape around these two basic themes.

The immense images are imposing and arresting to say the least. They have a strong presence, even from a distance. The powerful, oversized main images and armies of tiny images from which they are composed have been intentionally paired to create a dialogue. The history and background of one character are pitted against the other. The image of Marilyn Monroe is populated by countless diminutive images of the Mona Lisa. These two women are, arguably, the most famous women in the world. They share an unusual bond in that they are both, in some ways, fictional characters. The pairing also suggests another connection; that they are both fantasies. One is a 20th century fantasy and the other has arisen from the singular fantasy and imagination of DaVinci.

Drawing closer to the images, to scrutinize all the intricate details, it may become apparent that hidden in the sea of tiny repetitive images are carefully chosen codes and clues which have been inserted by the author in strategic locations, as a reminder of the events and situations in which these characters were involved.

In the end, the ultimate goal is to encode and layer information. As time passes, information is deposited in the works and these images evolve and change, depiciting a collection of stories, as well as the author's intent.

2011

• Art 42 Basel, Switzerland
• Scope Basel, Switzerland
• Edwynn Houk Galley, New York, USA
• Identity Crisis, The Heckscher Museum of Art, New York, USA
• Alp Galleries, Frankfurt, Germany
• Lookforart, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2010

• Galerie Albert Benamou, MY ALL-STARS, Paris, France
• Gallery M, Pixel - The Evolution of The Photograph, Denver, Colorado, USA
• Cavalier Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Nantucket, MA, USA
• Decompse/Recompose: Resurrect, Guy Hepner Gallery, Los Angeles, USA
• Decompose/Recompose: Resurrect, Solo Exhibition, Stux Gallery, New York, USA
• Unix Fine Arts, Olympia Art Fair, London, ENGLAND
• VeniceProject, San Francisco Art Fair, CA, USA
• Contrasts and Collusions, Solo Exhibition, Evan Lurie Gallery, Carmel, IN, USA
• Decompose/Recompose: Resurrect, Solo Exhibition, Art Chicago Art Fair, Chicago, USA
• Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain
• ScopeNY, Solo Exhibition, New York, USA
• Legend, Solo Exhibition, LA Art Show, Los Angeles, USA
• Legend, PanAmericanArtProjects Gallery, Photo LA, Los Angeles, USA
• Legend, Woolff Gallery, London Art Fair, London, UK

2009

• 10 x 10, WhiteBox Gallery, New York, USA
• Legend, Photo Miami, Solo Exhibition, Miami, USA
• Legend, Art Miami, Miami, USA
• Legend, ChinaSquare Gallery, Solo Exhibition, New York, USA
• Elements, ChinaSquare Gallery, New York, USA

2006

• Mysticism, Grant Gallery, New York, USA

2005

• Fusionism, Pegasus Gallery, New York, USA

2004

• Fashion Photography, Kobe Fashion Museum, Kobe, Japan