人态一 1994

Xu Hongming made this painting, "人态一," with what looks like acrylic paint. The surface is dominated by rows of simplified human figures in dark brown, set against a light gray background. I can imagine Hongming starting with a grid-like structure, carefully placing each figure one by one. It makes me wonder, was it a meditative process? A statement about the individual versus the collective? The paint seems thinly applied, almost like a wash, which creates this feeling of endless repetition. There's something hypnotic about the uniformity, yet each figure is slightly different, imperfect. The lines waver, suggesting the human hand and a sense of vulnerability in the crowd. When I see paintings like this, I am reminded that we are all in conversation with one another through painting. The act of mark-making becomes a form of expression which embraces imperfection and allows multiple interpretations, and that's a very beautiful thing.