Mao Decorated 1993

Yu Youhan made "Mao Decorated," using flat colours, creating a playful yet thought-provoking image. It's like a process of layering meanings, where the familiar image of Mao is overlaid with these decorative elements. I love the flatness of the colours, they appear opaque, almost like cut-outs pasted onto the canvas. Look how the decorative motifs clash with the seriousness of the portrait. The juxtaposition creates this tension that I find fascinating. The small flowers are a motif of Pop Art; together, they bring a sense of irony, maybe even a bit of rebellion, to the image of this iconic figure. The surface is smooth, and the brushstrokes are minimal, giving it a screen-printed effect. It reminds me a little of Warhol. Ultimately, the work asks us to question our assumptions and to embrace the ambiguity inherent in art.