灰配绿 2017

王新福 created this oil painting titled 灰配绿, which translates to "Gray with Green." The dense, textured strokes of paint create a landscape dominated by architectural forms, perhaps rooftops, against a backdrop of green. Without firm details on the artist's life or the specific historical moment of creation, the artwork invites us to consider broader themes of identity and place. It’s tempting to read the dense layering of paint as representative of the complex social structures or even the weight of tradition that defines communities. The limited color palette focuses our attention on the interplay between the man-made and the natural environment. How do societal structures affect how we see the world? How do we relate to communities that were built long ago? Consider how the artist's choice of perspective – looking down upon the rooftops – influences our sense of connection, or perhaps detachment, from this abstracted landscape.