Naked Otoko

Biographical/Artistic Sketch Patrick Wu was born on 1 January 1958 in Yunlin, Taiwan. Photography played a prophetic role in his childhood years. At age eleven he started shooting black and white photos. By the time he was in high school, he was producing male nudes. Following high school Wu earned several college degrees, eventually culminating with a JD in Law in 1997. A twist of fate led him to enroll in basic black and white photography and studio art courses at the University of Texas at Austin. Drawn by the visual sensuality of the male torso Wu discovered a new career and artistic pursuit, the male nude photography. Wu's approach towards photographing youth and male beauty is built upon guiding principles cultivated from Oscar Wilde's "A Picture of Dorian Gray." The artistic nature of his photography further reflected in an intrigue with the interplay of light and shadow on the male figure. These elements eloquently illustrate the majestic allure of the male torso. His interest in the sinewy muscular of the male physique has been drawn from Viktor Skrebneski's poster commissions for the Chicago International Film Festival. These artworks are highly charged with eroticism yet still restrained and subdued, characteristics which are similarly found in Wu's images. Wu's philosophy of photography transcends just taking pictures. He believes in 'making' pictures. The men Wu captures in his photographs are real. They are not professional models but men from numerous walks of life. The majority of them are found through advertisements in local weekly publications. Many of them come from colleges and universities throughout Texas. The men he prefers to pose retain well-defined muscular bodies. The greater their definition and texture the more interesting the result. The body thus serving as an artistic expression of male sensuality captured on film. The settings for Wu's photos are most often studio shots with stark backgrounds. Some of the shots utilize visual props for added interest. But always the focus is on the model; with variations of light playing a prominent role, whether captured on color or black and white film. In many cases he avoids outdoor scenes because the setting can detract from the male subject. Simple backgrounds are less distracting, allowing for more appreciation of the male form. Wu savors the use of color film. Most of his photos are shot in color strictly taken with 35MM cameras. Wu commented, "If black and white were a better medium the Old Masters wouldn't have painted mostly in color." The signature name of his studio Otoko Art is derived from Otoko-e men's painting of 12th century Japanese Heian court culture. While 'male art' is a common descriptive phrase in American artistic circles, Wu's studio name defines the uniqueness, character, and style of his photos. The significance of Otoko Art in this sense comes full circle in his philosophy of creating pictures not merely taking them; with an inherent sense of expression emanating from each male nude. Mike LutesWu, Patrick is the author of 'Naked Otoko', published 2002 under ISBN 9780972236508 and ISBN 0972236503.