In the Eyes of a Lover, We Are Always Beautiful is Wenjie Ding’s first solo exhibition in Italy. Ding’s portrayals of hyper-masculinized male figures bridge the tradition of Chinese erotic drawings with a distinctly Western, Tom of Finland–esque aesthetic. In a postcolonial context, his drawings subtly address the Western gaze that has historically exoticized and objectified Asian bodies. His muscled, sensuous models—countryside men transformed into objects of desire—embody a cross-cultural exchange that redefines the gaze on male (gay) sexuality. Through his work, Ding explores the tension between East and West, blending a globalized representation of gay sexual identity with the sensibilities and visual references of his cultural heritage.
These works immerse the viewer in a world where humor intertwines with tender, at times dreamlike, homoeroticism, creating a vivid dialogue between fantasy and the rural realities of China, where the artist lives and draws inspiration for his models. Though often depicting scenes that might be perceived as pornographic, Ding’s drawings transcend mere eroticism, instead portraying moments of connection, brotherhood, and complicity.
The exhibition brings together 16 drawings made between 2015 and 2024, a body of work characterized by a playful yet tender engagement with gay porn iconography—bikers, cowboys, after-gym sweat, and other archetypal figures—rendered with affectionate self-awareness. These figures, often celebrated for their virility, are recontextualized in Ding’s work not as symbols of Western-centric tropes, but as conduits for a broader, more inclusive narrative of masculinity, intimacy, and love.