Guan Wei's 'Living specimen' series consists of a group of predominantly monochrome paintings which extend his witty exploration of processes of cultural evolution by juxtaposing images from traditional Chinese life with icons of international art in a playful, questioning synthesis. Guan Wei draws on his background as the son of two Beijing opera stars and uses cold greys and blacks, warm red and flat cartoon figures to illustrate some common traits of human beings. The painting Big allegory (from 'Living specimen' series) was produced in Australia and reflects both Guan Wei's Chinese heritage and his interaction with Western art.