人态三 1994

Xu Hongming made 人态三 sometime after his birth in 1971 with unknown materials. What grabs me here is the sheer repetition, the commitment to mark-making as a meditative act. It's like watching someone write the same word over and over, trying to empty it of meaning, or maybe fill it with something new. Look at how each little wave sits inside its square. The gray background, almost like wet cement, creates a subtle texture, each indentation a tiny universe. The white marks on top feel both deliberate and somehow fragile, like they could be wiped away with a touch. It makes you wonder about the artist's hand, the rhythm of the strokes, the patience involved in building this vast, textured field. This piece reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin's grids, but with a looser, more human touch. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to shout; sometimes, the quietest gestures can speak the loudest.